Seven family members find themselves homeless after a fire ravaged their two-storey, seven-bedroom house along with their shop and Kava Bar in Malawai, Nadi, early yesterday morning. The property, owned by Abdul Munaf, had served as a family business for over 35 years.
Nazil Nabeel, Abdul’s son, shared that the shop had been closed on Saturday night, and the family was asleep when the blaze erupted. The exact cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
“The fire seemingly started from the back. My two-bedroom apartment and the downstairs shop and Kava Bar were all affected, while our family home with five bedrooms was located upstairs,” Mr. Munaf explained.
He lamented that they could salvage nothing from the fire except for the clothes they were wearing at the time. “Right now, we are homeless and unsure of our next steps. My parents are staying with a friend,” he added.
He described the loss as deeply painful, stating, “We were in tears watching everything we worked hard for consumed by the flames.” The estimated damage is reported to exceed $100,000.
Officials from the National Fire Authority have confirmed their involvement, stating that their officers responded to the incident and are investigating the cause of the fire. The police have also confirmed that a separate investigation is underway.