.jpg) Virgen de la Asunción Safe Home after the fire | |
| Date | 8 March 2017 |
|---|---|
| Time | 9:00 am Central Standard Time |
| Venue | Virgen de la Asunción Safe Home |
| Location | San José Pinula, Guatemala |
| Coordinates | 14°34′35″N 90°29′52″W / 14.5764°N 90.4978°W |
| Deaths | 41 |
The 2017 Guatemala orphanage fire occurred on 8 March 2017, at the Virgen de la Asunción Safe Home (Hogar Seguro) in San José Pinula, Guatemala. Forty-one girls, aged between 14 and 17 years old, were killed when a fire broke out at the orphanage. The girls had been locked in a schoolroom following protests, riots and an escape attempt which occurred the day before. In the aftermath of the fire, three government officials—including the country's Secretary of Social Welfare—were arrested and charged with crimes such as wrongful death and negligence.