A family of seven is now without a home following a catastrophic fire that engulfed their two-storey, seven-bedroom residence, as well as their shop and Kava Bar, in Malawai, Nadi, yesterday morning. The property, owned by Abdul Munaf, had served as a family business for over 35 years.
Nazil Nabeel, Mr. Munaf’s son, reported that the shop was closed on Saturday night and that all family members were asleep when the fire erupted. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
“The fire is believed to have started from the back. My two-bedroom apartment, the shop, and Kava bar are all downstairs, while our family home with five bedrooms was upstairs,” Mr. Munaf detailed.
He added, “We couldn’t save anything except the clothes we had on. At this moment, we are homeless and don’t know where to go. My parents are staying with a friend.”
The experience has been deeply painful for the family. “We were in tears watching everything we worked for go up in flames,” he expressed.
Mr. Munaf estimated the damages to exceed $100,000. The National Fire Authority’s liaison officer stated that their team responded to the incident and is currently investigating the fire’s cause. Additionally, police have confirmed that an investigation is also underway.