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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/30/schoolgirls-die-in-turkey-dormitory-blaze-after-fire-door-wouldnt-open
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| Schoolgirls die in Turkey dormitory blaze after fire door 'wouldn't open' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Twelve people, most of them schoolgirls, were killed when fire ravaged a dormitory for pupils in the southern Turkish region of Adana, local officials said. | Twelve people, most of them schoolgirls, were killed when fire ravaged a dormitory for pupils in the southern Turkish region of Adana, local officials said. |
| The fire raced through the three-storey building’s wooden interior as panicked victims tried to jump from windows to safety. | The fire raced through the three-storey building’s wooden interior as panicked victims tried to jump from windows to safety. |
| Officials said an electrical fault was probably to blame. They expressed concern that some of the girls who died had been unable to open a closed fire door to escape the top floors. | Officials said an electrical fault was probably to blame. They expressed concern that some of the girls who died had been unable to open a closed fire door to escape the top floors. |
| There were scenes of devastation as emergency services arrived to tackle the fire at the dormitory building, with parts of the building a blazing wreck and the roof collapsing. | There were scenes of devastation as emergency services arrived to tackle the fire at the dormitory building, with parts of the building a blazing wreck and the roof collapsing. |
| “We lost 12 of our citizens in the fire. Eleven of them were schoolchildren and one was a tutor. Twenty-two citizens are injured,” Adana region governor Mahmut Demirtas told Turkish NTV television. | “We lost 12 of our citizens in the fire. Eleven of them were schoolchildren and one was a tutor. Twenty-two citizens are injured,” Adana region governor Mahmut Demirtas told Turkish NTV television. |
| “According to initial findings we believe the fire was caused by electrical fault.” | “According to initial findings we believe the fire was caused by electrical fault.” |
| The Dogan news agency said all 11 of the schoolchildren killed were girls. They were said to be 14 or under. | The Dogan news agency said all 11 of the schoolchildren killed were girls. They were said to be 14 or under. |
| The disaster took place in the town of Aladag north of Adana city, one of the biggest urban centres in the south of Turkey. | The disaster took place in the town of Aladag north of Adana city, one of the biggest urban centres in the south of Turkey. |
| Demirtas said some terrified schoolgirls were injured after jumping out of windows to escape the flames. | Demirtas said some terrified schoolgirls were injured after jumping out of windows to escape the flames. |
| The governor said the fire broke out at around 7.25pm on Tuesday and was brought under control about three hours later. | The governor said the fire broke out at around 7.25pm on Tuesday and was brought under control about three hours later. |
| Demirtas declined to comment on claims that fire escape stairs were locked and students were unable to use them. | Demirtas declined to comment on claims that fire escape stairs were locked and students were unable to use them. |
| But Adana city Mayor Huseyin Sozlu said: “It appears that the fire escape stairs door was locked. Children could not open it. Bodies were found there,” he said. | But Adana city Mayor Huseyin Sozlu said: “It appears that the fire escape stairs door was locked. Children could not open it. Bodies were found there,” he said. |
| He told NTV “of course children would have survived” if they had been able to flee down the fire escape stairs. | He told NTV “of course children would have survived” if they had been able to flee down the fire escape stairs. |
| “From tomorrow the governor’s office will start an investigation.” | “From tomorrow the governor’s office will start an investigation.” |
| He said the children were aged between 11 and 14. | He said the children were aged between 11 and 14. |
| The fire spread rapidly because of the building’s wooden interior and carpeted floor, officials said. | The fire spread rapidly because of the building’s wooden interior and carpeted floor, officials said. |
| In an agonising wait, families who could not see their children stood outside in tears, Dogan added. | In an agonising wait, families who could not see their children stood outside in tears, Dogan added. |
| The dorm had capacity for 54 students and was open to both secondary and high school students. Demirtas said it was a private dormitory with 34 students in residence. | The dorm had capacity for 54 students and was open to both secondary and high school students. Demirtas said it was a private dormitory with 34 students in residence. |
| Fires are frequent in Turkey due to antiquated and often wooden buildings and faulty electrics. But a disaster of this magnitude is highly unusual. | Fires are frequent in Turkey due to antiquated and often wooden buildings and faulty electrics. But a disaster of this magnitude is highly unusual. |
| In a sign of the seriousness of the incident, several ministers were heading to the region, including the interior minister Suleyman Soylu and the education minister Ismet Yilmaz. | In a sign of the seriousness of the incident, several ministers were heading to the region, including the interior minister Suleyman Soylu and the education minister Ismet Yilmaz. |
| Demirtas informed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who expressed his sadness over the catastrophe, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. | Demirtas informed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who expressed his sadness over the catastrophe, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. |