A fierce blaze broke out at Tharaka University on Wednesday night, September 24, reducing the institution’s main administration block to ashes and leaving students and staff counting heavy losses.
The fire, which started at around 9 pm., is suspected to have been triggered by an electrical fault. The administration building housed several key facilities, including the Vice-Chancellor’s office, the Information Technology (IT) department, and a computer laboratory.
As flames spread rapidly through the structure, students living on and near campus rushed to the scene to help salvage property and contain the fire.
Working alongside university staff, they successfully prevented the inferno from spreading to adjacent facilities, including a conference hall and the university’s online radio studio.
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However, frustration mounted after a fire engine arrived late and was unable to extinguish the blaze. Many students expressed disappointment, saying they had hoped the emergency response team would help save at least part of the building.
With little more they could do, students and onlookers resorted to filming and live-streaming the destruction as the flames consumed one of the university’s most vital facilities.
Authorities are expected to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage in the coming days.
By Frank Mugwe
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