GUATEMALAN coroners are investigating whether the 40 girls killed at an abuse-riddled care home last week had been drugged and doused with fuel.

National Institute of Forensic Sciences director Nery Cabrera told the congress governing commission on Monday that the evidence strongly suggested mass murder, Guatemalan daily Prensa Libre reported.

That backed accounts by firefighters, staff and young survivors of last Wednesday’s horrific blaze at the Virgen de la Asuncion safe home south-east of Guatemala City.