Six people are homeless after a fire destroyed a six bedroom concrete and corrugated house in Rarawai in Ba yesterday.

House owner Dhiren Singh, 44, a labourer, said they were caught by surprise when the news was relayed to them.

Mr Singh said his family was attending the last rites of a close family relative who had passed away in Yalalevu, near Ba town, when the incident happened.

“I cannot understand why it happened. It is a sad feeling to lose your home that I built over 13 year now,” he said.

“We lost everything except our clothes we are wearing now. We have moved to our family who lives in Vutuni. I guess we have to start off again I don’t know how but life goes on.”

Police Spokeswoman Ana Naisoro confirmed the incident happened around 2pm.

She said: “The house was completely destroyed by fire. The house was vacant at the time of the fire and nil casualties. Investigations continue.”

She added National Fire Authority officers and the officers from FEA had also attended to the scene.

Mr Singh added the total cost of loss is around $40,000.

Edited by Maraia Vula

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