At least 26 children killed in Liberia school fire, say police

A man looks into a burned building after a fire swept through a school killing children in Monrovia - Copyright REUTERS/Stringer

By Euronews

Published on 18/09/2019 - 14:17•Updated 21:57

At least 26 children killed in Liberia school fire, police spokesman Moses Carter told Euronews.

At least 26 children in Liberia were killed in a fire at their school, police said. One teacher was also killed.

Police spokesman Moses Carter told Euronews that the fire broke out overnight at a boarding school and was likely caused by an electrical fault.

He said it was an Islamic School where students learn the Koran.

Carter said two survivors were being treated at the hospital.

Police said that most of the victims were younger than 18.

Liberian president George Weah tweeted the fire occurred in Paynesville City outside of the capital Monrovia.

"This is a tough time for the families of the victims and all of Liberia," the president of the western African country tweeted.

An earlier version of this article said 27 children had died citing police. Police have revised that number to 26 children and one teacher.

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