WorldMozaic - A Moslem School Caught on Fire in Malaysia, 24 People Killed.
At least 24 students and staff were killed when a fire broke out at a moslem religious school in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.The victims were most likely caught in their lodge and had difficulty escaping because the windows had metal bars.
"This is the worst fire that has ever occurred in Malaysia over the last 20 years," Khirudin Drahman, head of the fire & rescue department.
The police had mentioned that the victim was 25 people, but rectified. In the latest development, police said that the death toll consisted of 22 students and two faculty members.
According to police, the students are all male, aged between 13 to 17 years.
Most of the santri in tahfiz pesantren, who learn to memorized the Koran - lives in the lodge.
The fire began at around 5:40 pm (04:40 GMT), at the santri lodge.
Images and videos circulating on the internet show the upstairs pesantren that was engulfed in flames.
Officials said the fire fighting team arrived within minutes and the fire was extinguished within one hour.
The cabin only has one entrance, resulting in many trapped victims.
Dozens of santri were taken to the hospital for treatment related to respiratory problems due to inhaling toxic air.
Prime Minister Najib Razak compels sympathy for the affected people.
A minister, Loga Bala Mohan, said the incident should be investigated "so we can prevent such disasters in the future."
"We are sympathetic to the family, this is one of the worst fires involving so many lives in the capital in recent years," Loga Bala Mohan, according to AFP.
The Malaysian authorities once raised anxiety about safety standards in pesantren and private religious schools that did not join the government system.
Local media reported that since 2015 there have been more than 200 fires in pesantrens.
At least 24 students and staff were killed when a fire broke out at a moslem religious school in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.The victims were most likely caught in their lodge and had difficulty escaping because the windows had metal bars.
"This is the worst fire that has ever occurred in Malaysia over the last 20 years," Khirudin Drahman, head of the fire & rescue department.
The police had mentioned that the victim was 25 people, but rectified. In the latest development, police said that the death toll consisted of 22 students and two faculty members.
According to police, the students are all male, aged between 13 to 17 years.
Most of the santri in tahfiz pesantren, who learn to memorized the Koran - lives in the lodge.
The fire began at around 5:40 pm (04:40 GMT), at the santri lodge.
Images and videos circulating on the internet show the upstairs pesantren that was engulfed in flames.
Officials said the fire fighting team arrived within minutes and the fire was extinguished within one hour.
The cabin only has one entrance, resulting in many trapped victims.
Dozens of santri were taken to the hospital for treatment related to respiratory problems due to inhaling toxic air.
Prime Minister Najib Razak compels sympathy for the affected people.
A minister, Loga Bala Mohan, said the incident should be investigated "so we can prevent such disasters in the future."
"We are sympathetic to the family, this is one of the worst fires involving so many lives in the capital in recent years," Loga Bala Mohan, according to AFP.
The Malaysian authorities once raised anxiety about safety standards in pesantren and private religious schools that did not join the government system.
Local media reported that since 2015 there have been more than 200 fires in pesantrens.