United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is saddened by the tragic death of over 20 children and teachers in the fire which broke out at a religious school, Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz centre in Keramat here, early today.
In a statement issued here, its Representative in Malaysia Marianne Clark-Hattingh expressed deepest condolences to the parents and families of those who lost their lives.
She called for the establishment and enforcement of safety procedures and safe guards in all schools across Malaysia to ensure that such an unfortunate incident would not happen again.
"Sadly, these deaths could have been avoided. This incident is a stark reminder of the importance to ensure the safety and protection of children in all learning environments," she said.
A full investigation needs to be conducted as soon as possible to establish the cause of this tragedy, she added in the statement.
On the same note, the world body urged members of the media to exercise ethical reporting when presenting information on this incident.
She said media should refrain from publishing and sharing videos and photos which may infringe on the privacy and dignity of the victims and their families and their proliferation on social media.
The bodies were found on the top floor of the three-storey religious school in Datuk Keramat here, which went ablaze this morning were burnt and lying on top of each other.
According to Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh said 14 students and four teachers managed to get out of the building on time or were rescued, with six of them reported in critical condition. All of them were sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
The students at the religious centre were all boys, aged between 13 and 17.
The bodies were sent to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification by family members and post mortem. -- BERNAMA
READ: Tahfiz fire: Survivors escaped through broken windows
READ: Tahfiz school fire "spread like a storm", says teacher
READ: Tahfiz school has no OC, was renovated - Noh Omar
Bernama
Thu Sep 14 2017
Some of the survivors of the tahfiz school fire. - Astro AWANI/Shahir Omar
Pelabur perlu deposit RM2 juta jika mahu berhijrah ke Sarawak - Abang Jo
Premier Sarawak bersetuju dengan cadangan bahawa pelabur yang berminat untuk berhijrah ke negeri itu perlu mendeposit sekurang-kurangnya RM2 juta.
Tanabalan tiba di Madinah selepas 40 hari kembara motosikal
Tanabalan selamat tiba di Madinah pada Sabtu selepas memulakan kembara pada 20 Mac lepas.
Malaysia amalkan dasar luar yang seimbang, elak provokatif - Anwar
Malaysia mengamalkan pendekatan dasar luar yang seimbang antara Barat dan Timur, selain mengelakkan sebarang keadaan yang dilihat sebagai provokatif, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anjing kejar budak berjaya ditangkap, ada pemilik - PBT
Majlis Perbandaran Manjung (MPM) berjaya menangkap tiga ekor anjing yang dipercayai mengejar seorang kanak-kanak lelaki hingga nyaris digilis kereta pada Sabtu.
Fokus Minggu Depan: Soladiriti Gaza merentasi bangsa dan agama
Break The Siege: Fokus Minggu Depan membincangkan topik Solidariti Gaza Merentasi Bangsa dan Agama susulan penangguhan misi penghantaran bantuan ke Gaza anjuran Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC).
Boling padang: Daripada jaguh kampung, Farah Ain kini bergelar jaguh dunia!
Farah Ain berjaya menempatkan dirinya di puncak dunia dengan menggondol pingat emas perseorangan wanita di Kejohanan Boling Padang Dalam Dewan Dunia, Guernsey.
Kekejaman Zionis: Angka kematian meningkat ke lebih 34,000
Sekurang-kurangnya lapan rakyat Palestin terbunuh dan berpuluh-puluh cedera pada petang Jumaat dalam serangan Israel ke atas kem pelarian Nuseirat di tengah Gaza.
Pertumbuhan saksama: Penglibatan negara maju penting
Tengku Zafrul melihat kerjasama dan penglibatan negara maju sebagai aspek penting dalam membantu membawa kemampanan dan pertumbuhan yang seimbang.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Calon PH lancar manifesto minggu depan
Calon PH Pang Sock Tao akan melancarkan manifesto sempena PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu minggu depan.
SPRM siasat pemimpin kanan di utara tanah air
Seorang pemimpin kanan di utara tanah air disiasat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM).
Pemuda bunuh 23 penghuni tahfiz Ittifaqiyah kekal dipenjara
Susulan itu, pemuda berusia 23 tahun ini akan dipenjara selama diperkenankan Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Pemuda bunuh 23 penghuni tahfiz Ittifaqiyah kekal dipenjara
Seorang pemuda berusia 22 tahun kekal dihukum penjara selama diperkenan Yang-di-Pertuan Agong oleh Mahkamah Rayuan.
Tujuh suspek dibawa ke pusat tahfiz bantu siasatan polis
Seorang suspek dibawa ke sekitar Taman Tasik Datuk Keramat di belakang tafiz tersebut selama 10 minit, dua lagi kelihatan dekat tangga di belakang bangunan tahfiz yang terbakar itu.