Malaysia school blaze kills 24
KUALALUMPUR: Twenty-four people, mostly children, were killed on Thursday when a blaze tore through a Malaysian religious school, trapped in their dormitory by metal grilles on the windows.
Pupils and teachers inside the Islamic study centre in downtown Kuala Lumpur screamed for help as helpless neighbours looked on.
Many of the bodies of the victims — who included 22 boys aged between 13 and 17 — were found piled on top of one another, indicating there may have been a stampede as the students sought to escape the blaze which erupted before dawn.
Firefighters rushed to the scene and the fire was out within an hour but it wreaked terrible devastation. Pictures in local media showed ash-covered, fire-blackened beds in the students’ sleeping quarters.
Federal territories minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the children, who were boarders at the school, were “desperately trying to escape the flames” but metal security grilles covering the windows of their dormitory prevented them.
Officials said they were unable to leave through the only door to the dormitory, as it was on fire.
Fire officials said they suspected the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit, or a mosquito repelling device.
Officials initially said 23 students and two teachers were killed in the blaze. Police later revised down the death toll to 22 students and two teachers.
Minister Tengku Adnan said the school did not have the required licences to operate from local authorities.