At least 27 children killed as fire breaks out in Liberia school

At least 27 children have been killed in a fire at a boarding school in a suburb near the Liberian capital Monrovia.

“The kids were learning the Koran when the fire broke out,” police spokesman Moses Carter said. He added the blaze was caused by an electrical issue and that further investigations were ongoing.

The fire is believed to have broken out in the early hours of the morning, when school students were sleeping in a building attached to a mosque.

President George Weah has tweeted his condolences to bereaved families.

The fire started late on Tuesday in the suburbs of the capital Monrovia, Weah said in a tweet.

“My prayers go out to the families of the children that died last night in Paynesville City,” Weah said. “This is a tough time for the families of the victims and all of Liberia.”

The president's spokesman said that Weah will attend the funerals later on Wednesday.

Carter had originally said 30 children were killed before revising the death toll down to 27. Two survivors were taken to the hospital, he said.