At least 25 children aged five to six have died after their straw-hut classrooms caught fire in southern Niger, officials say.

Several others were injured during the blaze, which broke out on Monday morning as children took part in school lessons in the country’s Maradi region.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

In Niger, overflow classrooms are often built using wood and straw when the main brick structures are unable to accommodate all schoolchildren.

Monday’s blaze destroyed three such classrooms, the mayor of Maradi city, Chaibou Aboubacar, told local media.

With some of those injured said to be in a critical condition all classes at the school have been suspended.


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