Guyana school fire: Studentsuspected of starting deadly fireover 'caught cell phone'
A deadly fire at a school in Guyana appears to have been caused by a student angry because his cell phone had been turned on, officials said.
Nineteen people - mostly female students - died in a firein the South American country early Monday morning. The residence was reportedly locked and had boarded upwindows that trapped the victims.
The young suspect is now in hospital with burns and admitted to burns. Authoritiesare now seeking advice on whether to charge him, a government official told AFP news agency.
The fire broke out in the bathroom and eventually destroyed the entire building, which was partially made of wood and housed 57 students. Survivors of the incident in central Mahdia said they werewoken up by screams in the middle of the night.
Guyana school fire: Studentsuspected of starting deadly fireover 'caught cell phone'
The building, which housed 57 people, was completely destroyed
The girl is accused of threatening to attack him after being warned about having a relationship with an older man, according to a report from theAssociated Press. It turns outthat the caretaker - whose five-year-old son died in the fire - can't find the key to unlock the door in his panicked state.
Firefighters reportedly began pulling down walls to help people escape. But they struggled at first to catch fire due to bad weather conditions.
In addition to the dead - most of them indigenous girls - many others were injured. They were taken to hospitals, some of them in the capital city ofGeorgetown, and many of them are still in critical condition.
Local media said the fire was so severe that DNA tests wererequired to identify some of thevictims. The fire has been described as a "big tragedy" by President Irfaan Ali.
Local media said the fire was so severe that DNA tests wererequired to identify some of thevictims. The fire has been described as a "big tragedy" by President Irfaan Ali.
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