New details have emerged in the investigation into the fatal dorm fire at Utumishi Girls Academy, with CCTV footage reportedly revealing a group of trainees presumably associated with starting the blaze that declared the lives of 16 girls and hurt dozens of others.
According to private investigators, the video captured events leading up to the fire, which broke out in the early hours of May 28 at the school in Gilgil, Nakuru County.
Investigators examining the video footage said that at about 12:10 a.m., 5 students were seen getting in the dormitory while the majority of the residents were asleep. The students reportedly approached Cube 11 before proceeding further into the structure without talking to one another.
Detectives kept in mind that one of the students appeared to conceal her face from the monitoring cameras while carrying a slipper, which authorities think may have been intended to lower noise while moving through the dorm room.
The video allegedly reveals three of the trainees later on heading toward the dorm exit, leaving 2 others behind. Those two trainees are believed of firing up the very first fire after apparently striking a match before calmly walking away.
Authorities further alleged that the suspects then relocated to another area of the dormitory where mattresses were saved and started a 2nd fire. Private investigators think the second blaze spread more quickly, accelerating the disaster.
After the fires had actually taken hold, the trainees apparently left the dorm without raising an alarm.
Within minutes, smoke and flames engulfed parts of the building, setting off panic amongst sleeping students. CCTV video reportedly reveals students waking up in confusion and rushing to get away as the fire spread.
The inferno declared the lives of 16 students, while 79 others sustained injuries.
Investigations into the event are ongoing, and authorities are expected to identify the situations surrounding the fire and whether criminal charges will be filed against those involved.