Georgetown: At least 20 students were killed and several other children were injured when a fire broke out in the hostel of a girls school in Guyana early Monday morning. The officials said. The fire broke out at a secondary school dormitory in the southwestern border town of Mahdia, 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of the capital Georgetown, Guyana’s government said in a press statement.
“We lost many beautiful souls in that fire,” the government said. The government added that several other injured students were being treated and at least seven students were taken to the capital for treatment.
According to National Security Adviser Gerald Govia, “The fire broke out just after midnight at the school, which serves mostly indigenous children between the ages of 12 and 18. Govia said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the fire. Govia further added that heavy storms in the area posed a challenge for responders.”
“It was a war for us,” said the National Security Adviser. “The pilot was very brave and determined.” Govia added that the government and emergency responders made huge efforts to save all those who could be saved.” Local newspaper Stabroek News reported that the fire broke out in a girls’ dormitory.
Opposition MP Natasha Singh-Lewis demanded a thorough investigation.
