Rustenburg - Three pupils died and 23 others sustained injuries when a fire broke out at a school for the deaf in North West on Monday.
North West police said a fire broke at the girls hostel on the first floor at around 1am. “Three girls aged 16, 17, and 18 died. Twenty-three were injured when they jumped from the first to the ground floor escaping the fire,” police spokesperson Major Pelonomi Makau said.
Makau said the 23 injured were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and treatment of other injuries they sustained from jumping to the ground.
A computer room also caught fire and 22 computers were damaged as well as a number of laptops. “The cause of the fire is unknown. An inquest is being investigated.”
North West premier Supra Mahumapelo reacted with shock to the incident and sent condolences to the North West School for the Deaf in Leeudoringstad.
“Mahumapelo has upon learning of the tragic incident, set up a technical team which comprises of senior administrators from the departments of education and sport development, health, social development and community safety and transport management,” said Brian Setswambung, the premier’s acting spokesperson.
The technical committee would, amongst others, gather information with a view to intervening at the school. Learners at the school are to be counselled by professionals from government departments who were being assigned by the technical team.
Setswambung said damages at the school include one hostel which hosts 40 beds, an administration block, a computer laboratory and two teachers' flats.
ANA