At least 20 children killed in school dorm fire as horror blaze rips through building while kids slept in Guyana | The Sun

MORE than 20 students have died after a fire raged through their dormitory as they were sleeping.

The fire began just before midnight at Mahdia Secondary School in central Guyana, with Guyana President Irfaan Ali calling it a "major disaster".

President Ali said: "This is a horrific incident and its tragic, it is painful and I cannot imagine the pain of the parents and of the children, and as a country we will have to deal with this."

Five planes have reportedly taken off to support the health officials, with plans to transport seven children to Georgetown for treatment.

The fire reportedly began around 23:40 on Sunday evening, and local news was informed that many are still unaccounted for.

The town of Mahdia is known for it's gold mining, and the school houses students from surrounding towns and villages in the region.

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Photos from the scene showed smoke billowing from the building as the fire raged.

The government said in a statement: "We ask that our prayers continue to be with these children, their families, and communities."

The cause of the fire is undetermined, but local reports revealed there was "little that could be done" to save the building.

One woman said she heard "helpless cries" of students still trapped in the building when she arrived on the scene.

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The Department of Public Information said: "It is with heavy heart and pain that the Cabinet is being briefed and kept updated on a horrific fire at the dormitory in Mahdia.

"All efforts are being made to have a full-scale medical evacuation-supported response."

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