coder At least 19 people died in a fire
at a children’s shelter in
Guatemala on Wednesday, a
spokesman for the local fire
service said.

Commanders have “informed
us that they have already
counted 19 people deceased”
in the Virgen de la Asuncion
facility located in San Jose
Pinula, just to the east of the
capital, the spokesman, Mario
Cruz, told reporters.

It was not immediately known
how many of the bodies were
those of children.

The center, supervised by state
social welfare authorities,
hosts minors who are victims
of family mistreatment.

The facility has been the target
of multiple complaints alleging
abuse, and several children
have run away.