Mahdia tragedy: Boy, 5, dies in inferno as parents struggled to save children

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect new information from the authorities. We originally reported 20 people had died.

A five-year-old boy, identified as Adoni, perished in the fire which engulfed the dormitory for girls at the Mahdia Secondary School late Sunday night and into Monday morning.

The News Room understands that the boy’s parents served as the caretakers of the dormitory and lived in an apartment attached to the dormitory.

The boy was reportedly in the apartment as the parents tried to unlock the five doors to the dormitory and save the girls in the school.

There were an estimated 56 girls who resided in the dormitory. They were from the mountain villages of Chenapau, Karisparu, Micobie and El Paso.

A total of 18 girls have been confirmed dead, health authorities in the Region have confirmed.

The Guyana Fire Service responded to the fire just after 23:00 hrs on Sunday and the fire was put out some three hours later.

When the blaze was put out, the News Room understand that 14 bodies were pulled from the rubble.

Of the children who managed to escape the building, 29 were transported to the Mahdia district hospital, where five died.

One student died on the way to Georgetown, a senior health official confirmed.

Three girls are currently receiving care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.