A three-storey girls' dormitory has collapsed in southern Turkey, killing at least 14 students and injuring at least 25.
A three-storey girls' dormitory has collapsed in southern Turkey, killing at least 16 students and injuring around 27.
Officials said at least six students were still buried under the rubble of the school building near the town of Taskent, in Konya province.
Officials said at least six students were still buried under the rubble of the school building near the town of Taskent, in Konya province.
The collapse happened when a large gas canister exploded, authorities said.
The collapse happened when a large gas canister exploded, authorities said.
The explosion occurred at about 0500 local time (0200 GMT) when most of students were asleep in the dormitory.
The explosion occurred at about 0500 local time (0200 GMT) when most of students were asleep in the dormitory.
Galip Sef, a Konya emergency services official, said three girls had sustained severe burns when the gas canister in the canteen exploded.
Galip Sef, a Konya emergency services official, said three girls had sustained severe burns when the gas canister in the canteen exploded.
"We think the collapse was caused by a gas canister explosion in the building, given the burns on the injured," he was quoted as saying by state-run Anatolian news agency.
"We think the collapse was caused by a gas canister explosion in the building, given the burns on the injured," he was quoted as saying by state-run Anatolian news agency.
Smell of gas
Smell of gas
About 40 girls, between the ages of eight and 16, were staying at the dormitory in Balcilar village to attend Koran courses during the school summer holidays.
About 40 girls, between the ages of eight and 16, were staying at the dormitory in Balcilar village to attend Koran courses during the school summer holidays.
Merve Avci, a 13-year-old student who had minor injuries, said she had smelled gas coming from downstairs to the upper floors, and then felt the explosion.
Merve Avci, a 13-year-old student who had minor injuries, said she had smelled gas coming from downstairs to the upper floors, and then felt the explosion.
"I was in the uncollapsed part of the building with five of my friends immediately after the explosion, and we felt flames rising from the downstairs to upper floors," she said, according to Anatolian news agency.
"I was in the uncollapsed part of the building with five of my friends immediately after the explosion, and we felt flames rising from the downstairs to upper floors," she said, according to Anatolian news agency.
"Before the explosion, I heard one of our teachers saying that a gas hose was not attached to its proper place in the kitchen."
"Before the explosion, I heard one of our teachers saying that a gas hose was not attached to its proper place in the kitchen."
At the scene, people with pick axes, hammers and even their bare hands were trying to remove rubble.
At the scene, people with pick axes, hammers and even their bare hands were trying to remove rubble.
Television footage showed one girl in pyjamas being carried to a hospital. Another was seen being treated on the back seat of a van before being moved onto a stretcher and taken to hospital.
Television footage showed one girl in pyjamas being carried to a hospital. Another was seen being treated on the back seat of a van before being moved onto a stretcher and taken to hospital.
Outside the hospital, an eyewitness told Turkish broadcaster DHA how he helped in the rescue.
Outside the hospital, an eyewitness told Turkish broadcaster DHA how he helped in the rescue.
"There was a huge blast, I took my wife and ran to the site. The building was totally collapsed. We rescued as many as we could and then we brought them with our vehicle to the hospital," he said.
"There was a huge blast, I took my wife and ran to the site. The building was totally collapsed. We rescued as many as we could and then we brought them with our vehicle to the hospital," he said.
Konya's governor Osman Aydin said emergency teams had been dispatched from the capital Ankara to assist the rescue efforts.
Konya's governor Osman Aydin said emergency teams had been dispatched from the capital Ankara to assist the rescue efforts.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the school's collapse? Send us your comments using the form below.
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the school's collapse? Send us your comments using the form below.
