No fewer than 20 people have died in a blaze and more are severely injured after a devastating fire broke out at Mahdia Secondary School female dormitory in central Guyana.
The fire began around 11:40 on Sunday evening, engulfing the dormitory and trapping students.
Guyana President Irfaan Ali said: “This is a major disaster. It is horrible, it is painful”.
Emergency services are struggling to contain the fire because of bad weather conditions, the government said.
Several more people have been injured and some are being prepared for evacuation to the capital, Georgetown, where a special centre has been set up.
Five planes have taken off to support the health officials, with plans to transport seven children to Georgetown for treatment.
The Government’s Department of Public Information in a statement said: “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. All efforts are being made to have a full-scale medical evacuation-supported response”.
The Government prayed that their prayers continue to be with the children, their families, and communities”.
The town of Mahdia is known for its’ gold mining, and the school houses students from surrounding towns and villages in the region.
