Guyana Dormitory Fire That Left 19 Dead Was Deliberately Set by Student Upset Over Confiscated Phone, Officials Say

The deadly Guyana fire that killed 19 mostly girls trapped in a school dormitory late on Sunday was deliberately set by a student who was upset that her cell phone was confiscated, officials said Tuesday.

National Security Adviser Gerald Gouveia said the individual responsible for the fire, who is among the injured, had been disciplined by the dorm administrator for having an affair with an older man. Gouveia stated that the student, who allegedly threatened to burn down the dormitory, proceeded to ignite a fire in a bathroom area.

The student, who is about 14, is being treated for burns at the hospital and is expected to be released into juvenile detention. The man allegedly involved in the relationship with the girl is expected to face charges for statutory rape.

Gouveia explained that the fire rapidly spread throughout the building, constructed with wood, concrete, and iron grilles. The dorm administrator, commonly called the house mother, had locked the building for the night to prevent the girls from sneaking out. Five of the 19 victims died at a local hospital, while the remaining died at the scene. Most victims were Indigenous girls aged 12 to 18 from remote villages. Among the victims was also the five-year-old son of the house mother.

According to Gouveia, the government of Guyana has accepted the United State’s offer to send forensic and other highly skilled teams to aid in the ongoing investigation. In addition to that, the Guyanese government is also dispatching a group of DNA specialists to identify the remains of 13 out of the 19 victims who tragically lost their lives at the scene.