Mahdia tragedy: Girls at Georgetown Hospital battling serious burns, smoke inhalation

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect new information from the authorities. We originally reported 20 people had died.

The six girls who were airlifted to the city after suffering burns in the tragic fire at the Mahdia girl’s dormitory in Region Eight are battling serious burns with a 12-year-old girl receiving limb-saving treatment because of the extent of her burns.

An update was provided on Monday by Medical Officer in the Georgetown Public Hospital’s hospital’s burn unit Dr. Vickita Nandan.

She said six patients, all girls, were brought to the hospital for critical care. They are all nursing burn injuries and suffering from smoke inhalation challenges.

One child was rushed to the theatre because she needed a limb-saving surgery. Dr. Nandan explained this was necessary because of the extent of her injuries.

Three of the girls at the hospital are 14; one is 12, another is 13. The age of the last child is unknown.

Authorities have confirmed that 18 girls and one boy died in the fire. The girls were students while the boy,5, was the son of the caretakers of the dormitory.

A total of 29 girls were rushed to the Mahdia Hospital.

Two senior doctors of the GPHC were flown into the mining town to assess the patients and determine who needs critical care and should be flown to the city.