In the city of Mahdia in the South American country of Guyana, a fire broke out in a high school dormitory, killing at least 19 children who were trapped in the dormitory. Several people were injured. The cause of the fire is unknown.
An initial investigation suggests the fire may have been arson, police said, but have not yet named any suspects. Local newspaper Stabroek The News reported that the fire started in the girls’ dormitory.
Firefighters, according to Al Jazeera reported that 14 students died at the scene, yet Friday and in the hospital. Two children remain in critical condition, four are seriously injured. Six were taken to a hospital in the capital Georgetown, Friday and they are treated in the hospital in Mahdia.
“It’s a huge disaster. It’s terrible, it’s painful,” said the President of Guyana Irfaan Or. He said the medical teams arranged at the airport, while two major hospitals in Georgetown are ready to treat all children who need it, reports the BBC.
The school where the fire broke out is mainly attended by children from nearby indigenous communities. Most of the victims are also indigenous. Children between the ages of 12 and 18 go to school.
Guyanese journalist Denis Chabrol said that due to the bad weather, it is difficult to take the injured children by plane for treatment. According to him, it could also be difficult to inform the families of dead or injured children, because it goes for members of the community who are sometimes difficult to reach.
Source: Rtvslo
