Georgetown: At least 20 people were killed and several others were hurt as a fire broke out at a school dormitory in Guyana, media reports said on Monday.

“It is with great sadness that we bring to you a heart-wrenching update on the fire at the dormitory at the Mahdia Secondary school” in central Guyana, a Department of Public Information statement was quoted as saying by CNN. “We have lost many beautiful souls in that fire. The death toll currently stands at 20, while several others received injuries.”

However, the identities of the victims are still not known.

The Guyanese government earlier mobilized a “full-scale medical evacuation-supported response” after the fire broke out, reports CNN.