A victim of a fire at the children's shelter Virgen de la Asuncion, is rushed into a hospital in San Jose Pinula, about 30km east of Guatemala City, on March 8, 2017. (Photo: AFP)
March 7, 2017
At least 19 teen girls killed in Guatemala shelter fire
SAN JOSÉ PINULA, Guatemala (AFP) — A fire at an overcrowded shelter for abused children in Guatemala killed at least 19 teenaged girls Wednesday, the government said in a statement.
The blaze started in the female wing of the Virgin of the Assumption Safe Home for minors, located just east of the capital Guatemala City.
The public ministry, in charge of police services, said 19 bodies had been found, all of girls aged between 14 and 17.
Its toll updated an earlier count by a police official of “more than 17 bodies of girls” discovered.
A spokesman for the fire service had given a toll of 19 bodies counted without specifying age or gender.
