Tahfiz school fire "spread like a storm", says teacher

Teacher Mohd Ariff Mawardy, 24, who joined the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah residential religious school in Jalan Keramat Ujung here seven months ago, said: "The fire spread like a storm, there was not enough water (to fight it)."

All the students and teachers were asleep at the time, and they were rudely awakened by what sounded like a storm, he said to reporters at the Emergency Ward of Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

"I was asleep on the top floor (of the three-storey building). I rushed to fetch water to put out the fire, but it was too hot," he said.

READ: Short-circuit believed to be cause of fire at tahfiz centre

Mohd Ariff also woke up the students and instructed them to go down to the floors below and seek the help of people nearby.

"The grilles on the doors and windows prevented escape and several students were trapped," he said in a voice choking with emotion as family members pacified him.

The tragedy claimed the lives of 21 students and two teachers/wardens. -- BERNAMA