The majority of the remains were “burned beyond recognition,” Guyana President Dr. Irfaan Ali said at a press conference.
After her cell phone was retrieved by a teacher, a 15-year-old girl was accused of “maliciously” killing 19 pupils by setting fire to a school dormitory.
A fire “ravaged” Mahdia Secondary School in western Guyana just before midnight on May 21, killing 18 female students and one 5-year-old boy, according to a statement from the Guyana Fire and Rescue Service.
According to the AP, the teenage girl virtually appeared in court on Monday and was accused of the 19 deaths. The teen will appear in court again on July 5 to determine whether the trial can start since he was not permitted to enter a plea, according to the AP.
According to the AP, investigators claim that the youngster lit the fire in the dorm restroom after her cell phone was taken away. If found guilty, the girl may receive a life sentence, the site added.
According to the fire department’s statement, there were 56 female students inside the concrete and timber structure at the time of the incident. It continued that five doors were locked and there were bars on the dorm’s five windows.
The day after the fire, Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali revealed in a press conference that several of the remains had been “burned beyond recognition,” and DNA samples had been transferred to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City for identification. The results have been received, and all victims have been positively identified, according to Guyana’s Department of Public Information (DPI).
According to the AP, Gerald Gouveia, Guyana’s national security advisor, claimed that the dormitory manager had previously closed the doors to prevent female students from snooping out. Tragically, the administrator’s kid was apparently the 5-year-old boy who passed away.
Although the actual number of injuries was not disclosed, the DPI reported that roughly 13 pupils were sent to hospitals with injuries. According to the DPI, one victim was additionally transported to the burn center at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City over the weekend owing to the seriousness of her wounds.
The DPI said, “She endured two surgeries and her condition, though serious, improved rapidly. In the patient’s best interest, this transfer was decided to be essential out of a surplus of caution.
In the press conference, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said, “I want to assure all families, all Guyanese, that the government will fully support all these families and these children, provide all that is necessary in support of these families and children at this time.”
In its statement over the weekend, it also stated that “all the parents and kids are under continuous support from the Mental Health Team, including the psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellors, and social workers.”
