Global Courant 2023-04-28 06:17:33
The fall of a roof on the Juan Manuel Aguirre school in Chiquimula, has claimed its first fatality.
Kimberly Evanelia Gómez, 5 years old, who remained in the intensive care unit at the local Hospital, died this Thursday, April 27, due to cardiorespiratory arrest.
The Minister of Health, Francisco Coma, confirmed the news and indicated that the state of health of the minor was serious.
“He had a grade 3 head trauma. Unfortunately, in very serious conditions, he could never be transferred because his clinical condition did not allow it. He was extremely unstable and developed multi-organ failure and passed away, which we regret,” the official stated moments later.
Coma confirmed that currently four girls are still hospitalized in Chiquimula and another two in San Juan de Dios, in Guatemala City.
According to the head of Health, the two minors who remain in the General Hospital continue with a reserved box and with mechanical ventilation, although they are under permanent care. “While they are in intensive care and with ventilation, it is a risk,” Coma explained.
“They did everything possible”
Kimberly Evanelia was one of the ten girls who entered the Chiquimula Hospital along with a practitioner on Monday, April 24, when a metallic structure from the roof of a roof of the continuous building detached and fell on the school.
“We were doing everything we could for the baby. The pediatricians did everything possible and maneuvers were carried out for more than 20 minutes,” declared Gabriel Xitumul, director of the Chiquimula Hospital.
The doctor explained that a possible transfer to the capital was being analyzed, but due to the state of the minor it was very risky. A helicopter transfer also compromised his health, due to factors such as altitude and pressure.
“Due to the instability of the girl, she could not move and move her. Many times, just the moment in which one passes them -the patients- from one place to another, means that they can die,” said Xitumul.
Xitumul explained that care had to be more immediate in the case of five patients, including Kimberly, and that four are still under special care.
In the case of the other two patients, who were finally transferred, according to Xitumul, the doctors had time to perform CT scans and various tests and established that it was necessary to operate on them.
The doctor maintained contact with specialists from the San Juan de Dios Hospital and the neurosurgeons affirmed their support to continue with the procedures and patient care.
Two of the girls are still in intensive care, one of them underwent surgery, but both have shown improvement. Other of the girls no longer have assisted ventilation and was able to talk to her mother.
Mineduc and teachers speak out
The Ministry of Education (Mineduc) confirmed that it filed a criminal complaint in the case. Likewise, in a statement that was issued this Thursday, April 27, the ministry regretted the death of the girl and confirmed that the funeral expenses will be covered through the School Medical Insurance.
For their part, a group of teachers from the “Juan Manuel Aguirre” Girls’ School claimed the absence of the Chiquimula authorities to monitor the case.
“This gentleman, the owner of the building, says that he is going to collect his sheets and it is not fair,” he told various local media that broadcast the interview through social networks.
“We have that feeling, we would like the municipal mayor to say something too,” he said. In addition, he made a call for solidarity to support the school and the affected families.
The accident occurred on April 24 in the afternoon when a local storm with heavy rain and wind caused the metal structure that supported a roof on a nearby building to detach and fell on the school.
#WeatherGT After the damage caused by the rain at the Juan Manuel Aguirre Urban Official School for Girls in Chiquimula, Chiquimula, #CruzRojaGT Provides Psychosocial Support to students and teachers of said educational center.#WeCan’tStopOutWe’re Needed pic.twitter.com/P9i18BWC8w
– CruzRojaGT (@CRGuatemalteca) April 24, 2023
A 25-second video shows the moment the storm occurred and how the landslide occurred. In other images shared by the Red Cross, it was also possible to see the damage caused by the collapse of the roof.
Two practitioners who were in the classroom recounted their anguish and what they remembered in those moments. One of them heard the cries of the girls and ran to protect them. For now, she remains hospitalized for the injuries she suffered.
