A huge inferno razed down the students’ quarters at the St. Joseph’s Girls and St. Joseph Boys High Schools in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County on Tuesday night resulting in 41 students being rushed to the hospital.
Double tragedy as dormitories at St. Joseph's Boys High & St Joseph's girls in Kitale go up in flames on the same day the two schools marked St Joseph's Day celebrations. pic.twitter.com/moyCn9DQ4B
— The African Voice (@teddyeugene) March 20, 2019
Sources indicate that both schools had just concluded celebrations of the good performance of their school in the 2018 KCSE examinations. The fire was reported to have started at around 8 pm.
Sections of the dormitories and other property worth thousands of shillings were destroyed.
Speaking at the Kitale Level Four Hospital, Dr. Dennis Nyangingi informed that a majority of the students did not suffer any serious injuries and are likely to be discharged on Wednesday.
While confirming the incident, he stated, “We have received 41 students from St. Joseph High School after a fire incident.”
Dr. Nyangingi also indicated that the fire adversely affected most of the students since they inhaled a lot of smoke, which could easily be toxic to the body and result in adverse effects on health.
“They inhaled the fumes but we managed to stabilize most of them. We have three or four still in bad condition they are recuperating in the wards,” communicated Dr. Nyangingi.
Fire-fighters from the town also responded swiftly to a call for help and successful contained the fire.
Double tragedy as dormitories at St. Joseph's Boys High & St Joseph's girls in Kitale go up in flames on the same day the two schools marked St Joseph's Day celebrations. pic.twitter.com/9WOtujzYgj
— Meru FM (@MeruFmOfficial) March 20, 2019
Teachers and students of the neighbouring St. Joseph’s Boys High School had rushed to the scene to help put out the fire.
Here is the video: