BANGKOK – At least 17 girls have died after a fire swept through a school dormitory in Thailand’s northern province of Chiland Rai on Sunday night.

The fire broke out when many of the girls, reportedly aged five to 12, slept at the private Pitakiatwittaya School Christian elementary school.

Police colonel Prayad Singsin told reporters two girls were missing and another five were injured, with two in serious condition.

“Most of the losses were because the children were asleep,” he said.

“Those that got out were awake,” he said.

Local media reports firefighters took three hours to extinguish the fire.

The cause of the fire, which is believed to have started around 11.00pm local time, was not immediately known.

– TiVi Tuan-san