The children, mostly local girls, died around midnight on Monday, most at the scene. “A female student is suspected of starting the fire because her mobile phone was taken away by her mother and a teacher at the dormitory,” police said in a statement.
The scene of a fire at a secondary school dormitory in Mahdia, Guyana on May 22, 2023. Photo: Office of the President of Guyana
Several students told investigators they were awakened by screaming and saw fire and smoke in the dormitory bathroom area.
Guyana's pathologist, who conducted autopsies on the six bodies late Monday, listed the students' causes of death as smoke inhalation and burns.
In this case, up to 13 bodies have been transported to Georgetown for DNA identification. Nearly 30 other children have been hospitalized.
Guyana's Minister of Education , Priya Manickchand, said burn specialists, psychologists and other medical personnel are caring for the injured students and their relatives.
The youngest victim was the 5-year-old son of the dormitory caretaker. All the other victims were girls. Guyana's President Irfaan Ali visited the victims and declared three days of national mourning.
Hoang Anh (according to Reuters)
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