GEORGE TOWN: An overnight fire in a school dormitory in Guyana that killed at least 19 children may have been arson, the country's police and fire services said on Monday.
The building in the central city of Mahdia was "completely engulfed in flames" by the time firefighters arrived around midnight, the Fire Service said earlier in the day.
Fourteen children died at the scene and another five in hospital. Six injured children were airlifted to the capital, Georgetown, while at least 17 others were admitted to the local hospital.
"Initial investigations suggest that it was maliciously set and our investigations are continuing," police commissioner Clifton Hicken said during a press conference.
DNA analysis is needed to identify 13 victims, he said, and will be conducted "expeditiously."
The police said in its earlier statement one student was awakened by screams and witnessed fire in the dormitory bathroom.
Most of the 19 children who died were Indigenous, Mark Ramotar, the director of the police communications department said earlier on Monday. "The dorm usually houses students from Indigenous communities," he said.
The youngest of the victims was a five-year-old boy, the son of the dormitory's caretaker.
All the other victims were girls, and according to a list from the Ministry of Education include several siblings and at least one set of twins.
President Irfaan Ali, who met with some parents of the dead after visiting Mahdia's hospital, said in a statement the country will hold three days of mourning.
Victims' families are being provided with counselling and other support, Ali's statement added.
"There are no words that can describe this magnitude of pain that our brothers and sisters are going through," he said. "This is a pain we must carry as a nation and as a family."
Prime Minister Mark Philips and Minister of Education Priya Manickchand also visited the site.
Photos published by the government showed Manickchand comforting a woman and walking into a fire-gutted single story building.
Reuters
Tue May 23 2023
![School dormitory fire in Guyana may have been arson, police say School dormitory fire in Guyana may have been arson, police say](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/81684817296_burntsecondary.jpg)
People stand inside the remains of a burnt secondary school dormitory after several children, most of them from indigenous communities, died after a fire gutted the building overnight, in Mahdia, 22 May, 2023. - Guyana Presidency/via REUTERS
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.
![Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/51708604164_kasperskyancamans.jpg)
Kaspersky tinggalkan pasaran AS bermula 20 Julai ini
Kaspersky mengesahkan kurang 50 pekerja akan terkesan, dan mereka akan diberikan pampasan susulan penutupan syarikat tersebut.
![Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721127722_NurFarahKartini.jpg)
Keluarga Nur Farah Kartini mohon henti keluar kenyataan guris hati
Kakak ipar mangsa Syeril Norsyuhada Suhaimi, 29, berkata mereka sekeluarga masih terkejut dan sedih atas kejadian yang menimpa Nur Farah Kartini.
![Sultan Selangor jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan untuk pembedahan katarak mata Sultan Selangor jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan untuk pembedahan katarak mata](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721125507_SultanSelangor.jpg)
Sultan Selangor jalani pemeriksaan kesihatan untuk pembedahan katarak mata
Sultan Selangor Sultan kini berada di hospital untuk rawatan pemeriksaan kesihatan bagi menjalani prosedur pembedahan katarak mata.
Enam MP kekal : Tak adil salahkan Speaker - Gobind
Mengenai keputusan mengekalkan enam kerusi Parlimen bekas ahli Bersatu, Gobind Singh Deo berkata tidak adil untuk salahkan Speaker buat keputusan yang diperuntukkan undang-undang.
![Tokan dadah ditahan bersama dua pucuk pistol di Alor Setar Tokan dadah ditahan bersama dua pucuk pistol di Alor Setar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721123744_tokandadah.jpg)
Tokan dadah ditahan bersama dua pucuk pistol di Alor Setar
Polis menahan dua lelaki dan merampas dua pucuk pistol serta pelbagai jenis dadah dalam dua tangkapan di Taman Lam Foong, di Alor Setar.
![Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719354914_Destroyedbuildings.jpg)
Tiada tempat selamat di Gaza, kata ketua PBB
Beliau berkata tahap pertempuran dan kemusnahan yang melampau di Gaza tidak dapat difahami dan tidak boleh dimaafkan.
![Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721121786_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
Saya tidak fitnah Lim Guan Eng, cuma jelas tentang siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin memberitahu bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary.
![Saintis kesan gen bantu rawat kanser pankreas Saintis kesan gen bantu rawat kanser pankreas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81712376317_TujuanForensik.jpg)
Saintis kesan gen bantu rawat kanser pankreas
Gen HNF4A (Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 Alpha) didapati akan berhenti berfungsi pada tubuh pesakit kanser pankreas.
Pantau Agenda Reformasi: Potensi dan cabaran percambahan e-Sukan di Malaysia
Pengerusi Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) Negeri Selangor
merangkap Timbalan Presiden Majlis Belia Negeri Selangor
E-Sukan mampu mencetak nama Malaysia di pentas dunia. Memahami potensi, kekangan dan peranan yang perlu dimainkan semua pihak dalam melahirkan lebih ramai pemain E-Sukan yang berjaya, seterusnya menyokong pembangunan industri E-Sukan negara.
SRG cipta sejarah pasukan Malaysia pertama juarai MSC MLBB 2024
merangkap Timbalan Presiden Majlis Belia Negeri Selangor
E-Sukan mampu mencetak nama Malaysia di pentas dunia. Memahami potensi, kekangan dan peranan yang perlu dimainkan semua pihak dalam melahirkan lebih ramai pemain E-Sukan yang berjaya, seterusnya menyokong pembangunan industri E-Sukan negara.
SRG cipta sejarah pasukan Malaysia pertama juarai MSC MLBB 2024
![Venezuela kerah 5,600 tentera selepas Britain hantar kapal perang ke Guyana Venezuela kerah 5,600 tentera selepas Britain hantar kapal perang ke Guyana](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/51704094815_NicolasMaduro.jpg)
Venezuela kerah 5,600 tentera selepas Britain hantar kapal perang ke Guyana
Presiden Nicolas Maduro mengarahkan pergerakan lebih 5,600 tentera Venezuela sebagai tindak balas terhadap penempatan kapal perang Britain ke pantai Guyana.
![OPEC nafi terima Guyana sebagai ahlinya OPEC nafi terima Guyana sebagai ahlinya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-06/71687953618_TBOpec.jpg)
OPEC nafi terima Guyana sebagai ahlinya
OPEC dalam kenyataannya mengakui bahawa "Guyana adalah pemain baharu yang sedang berkembang dalam pasaran minyak antarabangsa dan memiliki potensi yang signifikan".
![Berang telefon bimbit dirampas, pelajar perempuan bakar asrama Berang telefon bimbit dirampas, pelajar perempuan bakar asrama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/61684903953_schoolfire.jpg)
Berang telefon bimbit dirampas, pelajar perempuan bakar asrama
Sebuah kebakaran dilaporkan berlaku di sebuah asrama di Guyana mengorbankan 19 orang kanak-kanak selepas pihak sekolah merampas telefon bimbit seorang pelajar.