7 Children Dead, at Least 57 Injured, After Part of School Collapses in Kenya

Reuters
By Reuters
September 23, 2019World News
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7 Children Dead, at Least 57 Injured, After Part of School Collapses in Kenya
A police officer stands near the debris of a collapsed school classroom, in Nairobi, Kenya on Sept. 23, 2019. (Njeri Mwangi/Reuters)

NAIROBI—Seven children were killed and at least 57 injured on Monday when a classroom collapsed in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, officials said.

Students were in their classroom at the Precious Talent Academy when the collapse occurred Monday morning, Kenya Red Cross said on Twitter.

Television stations showed images of rescue workers sifting through metal sheeting and slabs of concrete at the school, carrying white body bags to an ambulance.

Emergency responders are still searching to determine if there are more children trapped underneath the rubble.

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Police officers stand on the debris of a collapsed school classroom, in Nairobi, Kenya on Sept. 23, 2019. (Njeri Mwangi/Reuters)

“There have been 57 students that have been taken to hospital for treatment, and we can also confirm that there have been seven fatalities,” said government spokesman Cyrus Oguna.

Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) later said on Twitter 64 students had been sent to the hospital.

The KNH updated on Twitter that the “medical team led by the Ag. CEO Dr. Evanson Kamuri has managed to contain the situation and the children are stable as they receive treatment.”

The first floor of the building collapsed, trapping the children below, local lawmaker John Kiarie told NTV Kenya.

The cause was not immediately known, but authorities have previously warned 30-40,000 buildings erected without approval in Nairobi are at risk of collapse.

Kenya Red Cross said it has set up a station at the school to assist parents and guardians seeking information about the whereabouts of their children.

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A sandal is seen in the debris of a collapsed school classroom, in Nairobi, Kenya on Sept. 23, 2019. (Njeri Mwangi/Reuters)
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Kenyan police is seen at the site of a collapsed school classroom, in Nairobi, Kenya on Sept. 23, 2019. (Njeri Mwangi/Reuters)

Three years ago a six-storey residential block collapsed in Nairobi, killing 51 people following heavy rains.

NTD News staff and The CNN Wire contributed to this report.

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