One Pupil Dead, Others Injured After Strong Winds Rip Off Classroom Roof

At least one pupil has died, while several others are nursing critical injuries afterstrong winds destroyed Pascal Academy classrooms in Nakuru East, Nakuru County.

Reports suggest that the incident occurred on the afternoon of Friday, January 16, while the pupils were inside the classrooms, prompting an emergency response.

According to witnesses, a powerful windblew through the school compound, pulling off the classroom roofsand collapsing some of the temporary structures within the institution.

Desks, learning materials, and building debris were left scattered across classrooms and on the playfield, depicting the extent of the destruction caused by the sudden wind.

As the wind intensified, teachers and learners panicked, forcing them to scamper for safety as the debris fell over the classrooms, resulting in the death of a pupil and leaving others injured.

Emergency responders were immediately alerted as community members rushed to the scene to assist the injured learners, who were mostly residents of the area.

Witness reports indicate that the school is new and was built on land that is prone to cyclones, a situation that has since raised questions over the decision to construct the institution in such an area.

Meanwhile, injured pupils were rushed to nearby hospitals, with investigations currently underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The latest incident has sparked concerns among Kenyans over the safety of learners in school, even as learners commence their first term following the school's reopening last week.

It comes days after the Kenya Meteorological Department warned residents living in different parts of the country tobrace for strong windsexceeding25 knots (12.5 m/s).

According to Kenya Met, the strong winds were expected mainly in the Coastal region, Rift Valley, Nyanza, and western and Central Kenya regions for the next seven days, until January 20.

The weather department warned that the strong winds could result in dire damage, including the destruction of buildings, uprooting trees and maritime dangers to boats.