VICTIMS FOUND HUDDLED TOGETHER
Firefighters discover bodies of children as young as 6 in charred school
AS the firemen who had worked to put out the flames which destroyed the dormitory of the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school began stripping off their gear, it was obvious that they were exhausted.
Perhaps what was less obvious, unless someone were to take a closer look, were the pained expressions on their faces.
It was understandable. These firemen were the ones who found the bodies of the victims, some as young as 6.
It would have been heartwrenching indeed, as some were found huddled together in what was obviously a last embrace as the flames spread quickly.
Fire and Rescue Department deputy director-general Datuk Soiman Jahid said the remains of those who died in the incident were all found near windows on the second floor of the religious learning facility in Jalan Keramat Hujung.
He said the authorities believed the victims were trying to escape, but had no way of getting out as all the windows were fitted with grilles that could not be opened from the inside.
Although others managed to pry open the grilles and windows to escape, those who were trapped inside could not go anywhere near these escape routes as they were hemmed in by the raging flames.
As firemen were fighting the flames, several of those who escaped told them their friends were trapped inside the dormitory.
Efforts were redoubled then to not only put out the fire but also to get inside the dormitory to rescue possible survivors.
Soiman said most of the bodies were found in two groups — 13 on one side of the dormitory and eight on the other side.
“(As of 11am yesterday) the death toll of this tragedy is 23, including two teachers.
“Firemen who first arrived at the scene at 5.52am had managed to rescue five students using a ladder.
“The victims were then rushed to (Kuala Lumpur Hospital) for treatment,” said Soiman.
He said firemen had ruled out short-circuit as the cause of the fire, adding that checks revealed that the premises had yet to receive approval from the authorities.
Soiman said the school management had submitted its building plans recently, but had yet to receive approval.
Asked if the school had firefighting equipment, he replied in the negative.
Soiman said although the school had a staircase for victims to escape, the authorities believed that they were unable to do so as it was located in the middle of the building and were prevented from doing so by either the flames or thick smoke.
He said fire investigators would be summoning the school owner to record a statement.