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Paynesville, Liberia – September 18, 2019: A fire incident has reportedly claimed the lives of over a dozen children in the West African country of Liberia.

It is unclear how the fire started at a structure which was completely destroyed in the Bob Taylor Community in the northwestern suburb of Paynesville outside of the capital Monrovia. Unconfirmed reports say 26 children died in the fire. The fire reportedly broke out late Monday night at a local Islamic mission school. Local residents say children at the school are usually heard in the morning hours reciting the Koran at the school. Bodies have been removed pending burial in keeping with Islamic custom.

Debris was still smoldering. The structure was made of corrugated zinc as is with most dwellings in the country.

Pictorial from scene of fire incident

Curious onlookers and local residents have been pouring int the area to see the aftermath of the fire disaster. Several fire disasters have destroyed homes and claimed several lives. Layout of most communities in Liberia are poorly constructed with no access for emergency response.

There have been numerous calls in the past for stringent governmental code enforcement to avoid such tragedies but the government lacks funding and technical capacity.

Messages of condolences, prayers and thoughts are flooding various Liberia social media sites for the families of the victims and the Muslim community.

Police and the Fire Service in Monrovia are yet to comment on the cause of the fire and confimation of the number of dead.

By Emmanuel Abalo

African Star