Dozens of children have died after a fire erupted at their religious school in Paynesville, on the outskirts of the Liberian capital, Monrovia. 

“The kids were learning the Quran when the fire broke out,” police spokesman Moses Carter was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency 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 added.

Carter said the blaze was caused by an electrical issue and that further investigations were ongoing.

AFP news agency quoted the president’s office as saying that the fire killed at least 26 children and two teachers.

“This is a tough time for the families of the victims and all of Liberia,” President George Weah said in a post on Twitter. “Deepest condolences go out to the bereaved.”

Relatives gathered outside the yellow and green entrance to the building, whose sheet metal roof was burned.

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