17 students killed in Kenya school fire

At least 17 students were killed while 13 more suffered serious burn injuries after a fire in a boarding school dormitory in central Kenya, police say.

The death toll could rise, police warned on Friday, following the disaster at Hillside Endarasha Primary School in Nyeri county, as the survivors are being treated in hospitals.

The identities and ages of the victims were not immediately available, but most were described as children. The primary school caters to some 800 pupils, aged between five and 12.

The cause of the fire on Thursday night was being investigated, police spokeswoman Resila Onyango said, adding that “necessary action” would be taken.