People ask for information in front of a hospital after a fire broke out at the Virgen de la Asuncion Shelter, in Guatemala City, capital of Guatemala, on March 9, 2017. The death toll from a tragic fire at a Guatemalan shelter for children and adolescents climbed to 33 on Thursday, local media said. (Xinhua/Gonzalo Perper)
GUATEMALA CITY, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a tragic fire at a Guatemalan shelter for children and adolescents climbed to 33 on Thursday, local media said.
The daily Prensa Libre reported that another 21 children were in critical condition with second and third degree burns over at least 50 percent of their bodies.
"The chances that the minors admitted to the hospitals of San Juan de Dios and Roosevelt will survive are low," the daily said while citing hospital officials.
The blaze broke out late Tuesday night at the Virgen de la Asuncion Shelter in San Jose Pinula in the central department of Guatemala.
Children rioting at the shelter to protest poor treatment reportedly set fire to mattresses and the flames spread through the facility.
The daily said stories of abuse were emerging following the tragedy, including sexual abuse, violence, drugs and general mismanagement.
The Guatemalan shelter was designed to house 400 children, mainly girls from broken or abusive homes, but some 600 children and teenagers were living there, according to local media.
