Images from the site of the tragedy show the charred remains of school desks as people mourn the young victims.

Nigeriens are mourning the victims of a fire in the capital city of Niamey that claimed the lives of 20 pre-schoolers, aged from 3 to 5, on Tuesday. The children became trapped as the blaze ripped through their straw hut classroom.

“The little innocent children were really burned alive in this fire,” School Director Habiba Gaya told AFP news agency. “They were little so they weren’t able to run.”

According to reports, the building was already destroyed by the time firefighters arrived. The authorities are investigating the incident.

At least 20 children killed in Niger school fire pic.twitter.com/MZ7xJ0OO37

— The National (@TheNationalNews) April 14, 2021

Families in Niger mourn the loss of 20 pre-schoolers who died when a fire tore through straw school huts on Tuesday.

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/0yplvuYdmi pic.twitter.com/dvhhWa7LXE

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 15, 2021