A fire on Old Road, Eccles, East Bank Demerara, at 10:30 am on Friday, gutted two houses, leaving a total of 14 persons homeless; a family of four at Lot 77, and 10 occupants at Lot 76, a rental property.
The cause of the fire was determined to be a fluctuation in electricity supply, resulting in a power surge that caused the circuits in the rented house to spark, subsequently igniting nearby combustibles and going up in flames.
A family of four and an expatriate who occupied the neighbouring house are now homeless. The building, owned by 30-year-old Rohan Nauth, which he and his family occupied, was gutted by flames from the house of origin.
Stabroek News spoke to his wife, Oma Nauth, yesterday. She expressed her frustration, stating, “Our house could have been saved. They took too long to reach, and when they finally arrived, the fire truck was out of water. The hose had a problem, and when they were coming, the hose had holes, leaking water everywhere.”
Peter Rvannwaastrigt, an expat, and also an occupant of the building shared similar sentiments, expressing his dissatisfaction with how the Guyana Fire Service handled the situation. “This building could have been saved.”
The Nauths also operated a café in the building. They are looking at millions in losses and damage.
Oma Nauth, on the verge of tears, lamented that no one has reached out to them to explain what would be done for the losses they have suffered. (Mia Anthony)
