[BBC] – A dormitory manager and five others have been detained in southern Turkey after a fire claimed the lives of 11 schoolgirls and a teacher, reports say.

The fire swept through the secondary school dorm in Aladag in Adana province and authorities said it may have been caused by an electrical fault.

However, there were fears that the girls may have been unable to escape. The mayor said it was likely that a fire door had been locked.

The girls who died were 14 or younger.

The dormitory housed girls from impoverished families in nearby villages, reports said.

Although it was widely reported that the girls had been trapped on the second and third floors of the building, Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak said that according to initial investigations the fire escape door had not been locked.

TV footage showed flames leaping from the roof of the building as firefighters battled for hours to put the fire out.

It spread quickly because of the building’s wooden floors and the roof eventually collapsed, officials said.

Adana governor Mahmut Demirtas said some students had been injured when they jumped from windows to escape the fire. He said 34 students had been staying in the dorm and 22 were taken to hospital.

Turkish authorities imposed a media blackout on local coverage of the disaster.

Anadolu news agency said the six people in custody included the head of the dormitory, three teachers and two other staff. They were being investigated on suspicion of causing death by negligence.