A government official in Tanzania's north-western Kagera region has been giving details about the fire which swept through a school dormitory in the early hours of Monday, burning to death 10 children.
"This dormitory was housing 74 pupils and when it caught fire the pupils started fleeing, but due to the impact of the fire some couldn't make it on time," regional commissioner Marco Gaguti told Reuters news agency.
The cause of the fire at the Byamungu English Medium Primary School has not yet been established.
The fire started gutted one of the dormitories of Byamungu English Medium Primary School in Itera village.
Mbaraka Mahmoud, the village chairman, said villagers struggled to put out the fire, and rescuers dug through the rubble and burnt iron sheets to find the bodies.
"It is a sad day in our village. Parents, relatives and villagers are devastated," Mr Mahmoud was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Latest Stories
-
Judiciary being manipulated by politicians – Franklin Cudjoe claims
4 seconds -
NPP slams ‘unwarranted and disgraceful’ attacks on Kufuor
59 seconds -
Election 2024: Dampare cautions public against electoral misconduct
2 mins -
Mahama: Voting for Bawumia is endorsing mismanagement
3 mins -
NPP Ho Central PC launches ‘DINATO’ loan scheme to support women traders
3 mins -
Vacant seats: Political poison in the judicial system at its peak – Justice Atuguba
7 mins -
Kadjebi NCCE engages political party youth activists on peace, tolerance
1 hour -
Krachi East: NCCE educates voters on proper voting procedures
1 hour -
NCCE organises debate for Kwesimintsim parliamentary candidates
1 hour -
Wa Naa, Y-PES Ghana launch Youth for Peace Declaration campaign
1 hour -
Inflation, concentration risk erode pension investment returns – GSE Boss
2 hours -
‘Stay away if you don’t have the temperament to accommodate journalists’ — GJA Prez to election stakeholders
2 hours -
Illegal miners attempt to mine at Neung South Forest Reserve
2 hours -
Cardinal Namdini reiterates responsible mining, local content as it pours first gold
2 hours -
Demand accountability after elections – NCCE Chairperson urges Ghanaians
2 hours