Myanmar fire raises security fears

  • 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION

Security was tight in Yangon on Wednesday (April 3), a day after a fire caused by faulty electrical equipment killed 13 boys at an Islamic school.

However, some Muslims have voiced concern because the fire followed a wave of anti-Muslim violence in the Buddhist-majority country.

Myanmar's government called for calm in the wake of the tragedy amid the height of sectarian conflict and clashes in recent months.

Yangon's fire department has launched in inquiry into the cause of the fire, along with a electricity company, and representatives from Muslim communities.

Officials said in a statement late on Tuesday (April 2) that the fire was caused by a faulty electricity transformer which short circuited.

The victims died of suffocation when the fire broke in the dormitory of the Islamic school based at a mosque.

About 70 teenage Islamic students were thought to slept in the Mosque compound during the night.

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