DUSHANBE, Jan 8: A fire at an orphanage in Dushanbe, the capital of ex-Soviet Tajikistan, killed 13 children on Sunday, fire officials said. Only the scorched walls of the building remained. It had mainly housed disabled children, many of whom could not move by themselves.

“Thirteen children died. Thankfully another 79 children were evacuated, one of them is now in hospital,” Nusrattullo Faizulloyev, the Central Asian state’s Health Minister, told reporters.

He denied earlier official reports that 60 children had been injured. “They have suffered seriously psychologically,” he added.

There was no word on what had caused the fire.

Witnesses said it had taken a long time for help to come, although the orphanage is in the city centre.

“The firemen arrived practically an hour after they were called. A lot of people called as soon as they saw the fire. It was very strong.

“We tried our best to put it out,” said a young man, black with soot, who did not want to give his name.—Reuter