Nigeriens are mourning the victims of a fire in the capital city of Niamey that claimed the lives of 20 pre-schoolers, aged from 3 to 5, on Tuesday. The children became trapped as the blaze ripped through their straw hut classroom.
"The little innocent children were really burned alive in this fire," School Director Habiba Gaya told AFP news agency. "They were little so they weren't able to run."
Families in Niger mourn the loss of 20 pre-schoolers who died when a fire tore through straw school huts on Tuesday.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 15, 2021
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/0yplvuYdmi pic.twitter.com/dvhhWa7LXE
How 20 children died in Niger Republic school fire incident https://t.co/25RFgLf3uy #vanguardnews pic.twitter.com/evW3Jfbzmb
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) April 15, 2021
Fire kills at least 20 children
— MwanzoTV (@MwanzoTv) April 14, 2021
20 children died after being trapped in a fire at a school in Niger's capital, Niamey. The fire started late Monday afternoon as children were attending lessons.#MwanzoTV pic.twitter.com/68qvxdo1XE
At least 20 children killed in Niger school fire pic.twitter.com/MZ7xJ0OO37
— The National (@TheNationalNews) April 14, 2021
According to reports, the building was already destroyed by the time firefighters arrived. The authorities are investigating the incident.
