A young woman tragically lost her life in a devastating house fire at Levuka Settlement, located off Bureta Street in Samabula North, yesterday afternoon. This incident has brought the total number of fire-related fatalities in Fiji to 13 for the year.
The National Fire Authority (NFA) received an emergency call around 4pm reporting the structural fire, prompting the rapid deployment of two fire trucks from the Suva Fire Station. Firefighters arrived at the scene within eight minutes, only to find a two-bedroom corrugated iron house fully engulfed in flames.
During their firefighting efforts, the crews were informed that an individual was trapped inside the burning structure. Despite their intensive efforts, which included utilizing water relay systems and connecting to a nearby fire hydrant, they discovered the body of a 20-year-old woman within the debris. The property suffered approximately 95 percent damage.
The house, owned by 70-year-old Shushila Wati, was rented and occupied by 47-year-old barber Ajay Raju. Unfortunately, records indicate that the property was not insured, adding to the tragedy of the situation.
Joel Israel, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the NFA, confirmed that an investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire. He expressed condolences to the family and loved ones of the young woman, stating, “Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the young woman who lost her life in this tragic incident.”
So far this year, the statistics reveal that of the 13 fire fatalities, six were women and seven were men, with the majority of the victims being adults. The fire tragedies this year underscore the importance of fire safety and the need for preventive measures to protect lives.