Hillside Academy fire: Rescuers found children hiding under beds in dormitory

A local government official in Nyeri has told journalists a bit more about what happened last night at the Hillside Endarasha Primary School.

Samson Mwangi Mwema said the fire started around 23:00 local time.

He was awakened by a phone call and joined many others in desperate efforts to rescue the boys trapped in the dormitory.

“No one knew where the fire came from… but we were more than 2,000 people trying to rescue [them],” he said.

“We found some children under the bed, and we were able to rescue them, some had not been burned.”

Mwema said the school was one of the best in the area.

“It’s a huge loss, but we shall continue and God will help us.”