A gas explosion has destroyed a girls’ dormitory in Turkey, killing more than a dozen students and trapping others under the rubble of the collapsed building. Two dozen girls have also been injured, many of them suffering burns. Rescuers are trying to reach those trapped. At least two are thought to be still alive.

The three story building belonged to a religious foundation. The girls had been attending a summer school at the centre in the village of Balcilar, in the mountainous district of Taskent.

They were all between eight and sixteen years old. They had been taking Koran lessons in their summer holiday. A gas cannister is believed to have exploded at around five o’clock in the morning while around 40 of the girls were inside the building.

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