A teen girl is suspected of starting a fire at her school, which resulted in a catastrophe. The horrific event happened in the South American nation of Guyana. The dormitory at Mahdia Secondary School caught fire on Sunday, and it was closed to prevent the girls from escaping at night.

Reportedly, the fire killed 19 pupils. The building was accommodating 57 children at the time of the incident. The windows were barred and doors were locked. 38 students were able to escape including six seriously injured youngsters, who were flown to the capital city for medical attention. The Guyana Fire & Rescue Service claimed in a statement that the fire was "maliciously set."

According to authorities, a teenage student who was angry that her mobile had been taken away started the fire. The girl had confessed to starting the fire, said an anonymous official. The suspected girl is now in police custody and the officials are yet to decide whether to charge her. Leslie Ramsammy, an adviser to the country's health ministry, told that the girl would remain in juvenile detention after she recovered.

The suspect in the incident, a student at the school, was accused of lighting the dorm on fire after being punished for having a relationship with an older guy. She was under 16 at the time, therefore cops were also attempting to file a statutory rape charge against the old man she was dating.

On social media, the fire service posted a video of their efforts. The fire has become a national tragedy in Guyana. A national school's fire safety review is also being planned by the country's Home Affairs office.