On October 24th, 2020, a devastating fire broke out in a school dormitory in the the Berbice region of Guyana, killing at least 20 people and injuring several more. Reports suggest that the cause of the fire was electrical and that those who died were unable to escape. The dormitory was located at the American International School of Guyana (AISG) which primarily serves overseas children of Guyanese descent. According to AISG, the dormitory was compliant with all safety standards. Local Fire Chief Aubrey Retamal has said that the fire is being further investigated into the exact cause.
The Guyana Fire Service provided assistance in putting out the fire and has revealed that they responded to the emergency within 10 minutes of when they were alerted. A number of foreign embassies located in the island nation have said they are offering support to affected families and friends of the victims. President Irfaan Ali has also issued a statement of condolence, promising assistance to local authorities in the investigation.