Swakopmund — Close to 91 learners of the Marienheim hostel run by the Roman Catholic Church miraculously escaped death on Sunday afternoon when their hostel was gutted by fire causing extensive damage.
The fire allegedly started in the girls hostel when an unknown person who has not been identified set a curtain on fire. Clear footprints believed to be that of an adult person were also noticed around the area where the curtain was set alight. According to Father Anthony Spencer learners alerted the nuns in charge of the hostel about a curtain that was burning in one of the girls' rooms shortly after the learners attended mass at the church opposite the hostel. "The fire was extinguished and the learners went to eat after which they went to play outside. On Sundays the hostel is normally locked and the learners play outside or watch television in an adjacent building.
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