At least 20 people, including children, have been killed after a fire ripped through a secondary school. Mahdia Secondary School in a mining town in Guyana, South America burst into flames just after midnight on Monday, trapping students inside. Many are feared to still be inside the building.
The Department of Public Information, Guyana, which confirmed the “heart-wrenching” incident, said: “We have lost many beautiful souls in that fire.
“The death toll currently stands at 20, while several others received injuries.”
Firefighters are struggling to contain the fire because of poor weather conditions, the local government said on Sunday night.
The Prime Minister of the South American country is said to be leading a team of officials to the school while the Minister of Home Affairs, Brindley Robeson Benn, is already on the ground supporting victims’ families.
Guyanese President Irfaan Ali: “This is a major disaster. It is horrible, it is painful.
“It is with heavy heart and pain that the Cabinet is being briefed and kept updated on a horrific fire at the dormitory in Mahdia.
The government’s Department of Public Information said in an initial statement: “All efforts are being made to have a full-scale medical evacuation-supported response.”
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