According to reports, a fire was started at a Guyana school on Monday by a student who was angry that her mobile phone had been confiscated by authorities. The dormitory where the fire broke out had locked doors and covered windows, resulting in the tragic death of 19 students, most of whom were local girls. The teenage suspect has since been taken to the hospital where she’s being treated for burns, with BBC News claiming she has since owned up to the reckless crime.
After the phone was confiscated, the unnamed teen started a fire in the bathroom that quickly spread across the entire school. The building reportedly houses up to 57 students, most of which were fortunate to escape before the fire had gotten near their dorm. What’s worse, the dorm administrator couldn’t find the keys to unlock the doors as the fire continued to spread, which also ended up resulting in the death of her five-year-old son. Sources say the teen girl had her phone taken away over an alleged affair she was having “with an older man.”
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The incident has sparked outrage among parents and citizens alike, and President Irfaan Ali has met with some of the families of the victims. Some have said that while it’s understandable that students may feel frustrated and upset when their phones are confiscated, it is never acceptable to resort to such drastic measures, with Ali calling the attack a “major disaster.” One of the most disturbing aspects of this tragedy is the fact that the dormitory was not equipped with modern fire alarms.
Additionally, students had not undergone training in fire drills, which could have helped them evacuate the building safely. These oversights are unacceptable and must be addressed to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
As family members mourn the loss of these young lives, it is important to remember that we must prioritize safety in all aspects of life, especially in places like schools where children spend a significant amount of time.
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Over on social media, people are saying that the Guyanese government must take swift action to ensure that proper safety measures are put in place in all schools to prevent such senseless tragedies from occurring in the future. They owe it to the victims and their families to do everything in their power to prevent this from happening again, one person tweeted.
While confiscating phones may seem like a reasonable measure, it is crucial to consider the potential consequences and ensure that proper fire safety measures and training are in place. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims during this difficult time.