Pakistan orphanage fire kills 5 children

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

At least five children were burned to death when a blaze broke out in an orphanage in southern Pakistan late Thursday evening, officials confirmed.

The incident occurred in Mirpurkhas district, some 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the country's commercial capital, Karachi.

Mohammad Aamir, a district administrative official, told reporters the fire engulfed a portion of the residential compound of the orphanage, killing five children and injuring an unconfirmed number of others.

A short circuit is said to be the cause of the fire.

Pakistan has had a long history of such tragedies, mainly due to poor safety standards.