A family of seven has become homeless after a destructive fire engulfed their two-storey, seven-bedroom residence, along with their shop and Kava Bar, in Malawai, Nadi, early yesterday morning.
The property, which belonged to Abdul Munaf, had served as a family business for over 35 years. His son, Nazil Nabeel, mentioned that the shop was closed on Saturday night, and all family members were asleep when the fire erupted. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the blaze.
“The fire is believed to have originated from the back. My two-bedroom apartment, the shop, and Kava bar were all on the lower level, while the family home with five bedrooms was upstairs,” Mr. Munaf explained.
He expressed the family’s distress, stating, “There is nothing we could save except the clothes we were wearing. Right now, we are homeless and don’t know where to stay. My parents are at a friend’s house.”
Describing the incident as a heartbreaking experience, he added, “We were in tears seeing everything we worked hard for reduced to ashes.” The estimated damage from the fire is over $100,000.
The National Fire Authority has confirmed that its officers responded to the scene and are investigating the incident, with the police also launching their own investigation.