Turkey: 13 girls killed in dormitory collapse

A girl’s dormitory collapsed in central Turkey this morning, killing 11 students, officials said.

A girl’s dormitory collapsed in central Turkey this morning, killing 13 students, officials said.

Six other students were believed to be under the rubble following the explosion in the village of Balcilar.

The mayor Mehmet Demirgul said authorities believe the building collapsed when a large gas canister exploded.

At least 20 students were brought out of the debris with injuries, said Galip Sef, an official with the local emergency services. Three of the students sustained severe burns, he said.

An estimated 40 girls, between the ages of eight and 16, were staying at the dormitory in Balcilar, near the town of Taskent, in the Toros mountain range.

The students were attending Koran courses during the school summer break.

“We are hearing voices. I believe those inside the rubble will be saved,” Mr Demirgul said.

The explosion occurred around 4.15am local time (2.15am Irish time) when most of the students were asleep.

Television footage showed local people, some using their bare hands, trying to remove the rubble from a partly flattened, concrete building.

One young girl in pyjamas could be seen being carried to a hospital.

Osman Aydin, the governor for Konya province, said emergency teams had been dispatched from the capital Ankara to assist the rescue efforts.