MORE than 20 pupils in Niger were killed in a violent fire at their school located on the outskirts of Niamey, the city’s fire department confirmed Tuesday evening.

The fire started late Monday afternoon when the children were attending lessons in straw classrooms. Most of those who did not manage to escape were attending the school’s nursery, officials said.

Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou went to the school, on the edge of the capital, to offer his condolences.

Photos shared on social media show crowds gathered by the school looking at the wreckage of the charred scene.

Teachers’ union official Mounkaila Halidou said there were about 800 students attending the school.(SD-Agencies)