An overnight fire ravaged a school dormitory in Guyana early May 22, killing at least 19 students and injuring others, authorities stated.
Just before midnight, a fire began in the dormitory building of a boarding school near the border town of Mahdia, a gold and diamond mining community, The Associated Press (AP) reported. “When firefighters arrived on the scene, the building was already completely engulfed in flames,” Guyana’s Fire Service said in a statement, reported by the outlet.
Though the fire was intense, officials were able to rescue approximately 20 students by breaking holes into the northeastern wall in the building, the fire department stated, according to The AP. Two children are currently in critical condition and four have been listed as severely injured while other students are being observed for their injuries, the outlet stated. (RELATED: Video Shows Massive Fire That Displaced 26 People In Maryland)
BREAKING: A fire raced through a school dormitory in Guyana, killing at least 20 students and injuring others, authorities said. https://t.co/k9Q2Srwz1Y
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 22, 2023
Despite rescue efforts, fourteen students died on the scene, while another five succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital, the outlet stated. Initial reports indicated that 20 students had died on the scene, but the figure was altered after doctors were able to revive a student, “everyone thought was dead,”National Security Adviser Gerald Gouveia told the outlet.
“This is a horrific incident. It’s tragic. It’s painful,” President Irfaan Ali stated, according to The AP. Ali assured that all possible resources were being mobilized to assist the children.“I cannot imagine the pain right now of the parents,” he stated, adding, “This is a major disaster.”
Guyana’s opposition party, APNU+AFC, issued a statement in the wake of the fire, stating that they are seeking a “thorough investigation” into the incident. “We need to understand how this most horrific and deadly incident occurred and take all necessary measures to prevent such a tragedy from happening again in the future,” opposition lawmaker Natasha Singh-Lewis said, according to The AP.