UGANDA: School dormitory fire near Kampala kills at least 21 people, mostly children
Record ID:
1526818
UGANDA: School dormitory fire near Kampala kills at least 21 people, mostly children
- Title: UGANDA: School dormitory fire near Kampala kills at least 21 people, mostly children
- Date: 16th April 2008
- Summary: (FLASH) OUTSIDE KAMPALA, UGANDA (APRIL 15, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS AND INTERIORS OF DORMITORY AFTER FIRE (4 SHOTS) UGANDA RED CROSS SOCIETY OFFICIALS AT SITE
- Embargoed: 1st May 2008 11:47
- Keywords:
- Location: Uganda
- Country: Uganda
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVAD060BCBIY7AABP25PYHRK6V74
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: At least 21 people, mostly children, die in school dormitory fire in Uganda.
A fire in a primary school dormitory in Uganda killed at least 21 people, most of them children, Red Cross officials said on Tuesday (April 15).
The fire broke out in a dormitory block at the Budo Junior School outside Kampala on Monday (April 14) night.
Parents, teachers and local residents were reported to have tried to fight the fire, but were not able to put it out.
Ugandan Red Cross official Hillary Okwaio said on Tuesda that there were around 19 bodies in the dormitory and two more in a hall.
"Either those are people who came to rescue or somebody like that, nobody can tell, but in all 21 bodies were confirmed and we continue to get more body parts and that is the most challenging part," Okwaio said.
The cause of the fire was not immediately know, but school deputy principal Moses Sewalu said the children would have had little chance.
"They were deep asleep at that material time and there is no way they could fight out of that fire. They are all affected, some survived this fine, but how about those small ones who were 18 (sic) in number who have passed away. It is a very, very sad moment," said Sewalu. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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