Global Courant 2023-05-31 02:46:31
A 14-year-old girl injured in the blaze has died in intensive care as the teenage arson suspect faces murder charges.
A 14-year-old girl has succumbed to injuries sustained in a dormitory fire in the South American state of Guyana, bringing the death toll to 20.
Guyana’s Department of Public Information (DPI) has a update on Tuesday stating that teenager Sherana Daniels had died at a hospital in Georgetown’s capital at around 10am local time (2pm GMT).
She had been transported there for intensive care after the deadly fire at a boarding school in the town of Mahdia late at night on May 21.
Daniels “was one of the first to fly to Georgetown on the morning of Monday, May 22, and remained critical until her passing,” the statement said.
“The MOH (Minister of Health) would like to thank the doctors, nurses and other staff who worked tirelessly in the hope that a miracle might be possible.”
Prior to Daniels’ death, 18 female students and a five-year-old boy had died in the blaze. Most were between the ages of 12 and 18.
The government has previously said that 13 of the bodies were so badly injured that they could not be identified visually: DNA tests had to be used to confirm their names.
In addition, more than two dozen students were injured in the fire. A 13-year-old girl is still receiving specialized treatment at the Northwell Burn Center at University Hospital in Staten Island, New York, where she was transported this weekend.
Tuesday’s DPI statement said she underwent the first of several surgeries on May 29 and remains stable.
“She is doing well and the ministry expects a positive outcome. Her mother is by her side and her father is being flown to New York this week,” the statement said.
Police have said the fire was started by a teenage student who was angry that her phone had been confiscated. The government boarding school largely serves students from indigenous communities in the region around Mahdia, some of which are difficult to reach.
The teenage girl accused of starting the fire was charged with 19 counts of murder on Monday and is being held in a juvenile detention center awaiting trial. The incident has also sparked questions about school safety procedures.
