Four families left homeless after fire destroys homes in Lami

Four families at Valenicina Settlement in Lami face an uncertain future after a fire tore through their homes late Tuesday night.

The blaze left them with little more than the clothes they were wearing.

The fire, which broke out shortly after midnight on the outskirts of Lami Town, quickly engulfed a block of four flats, destroying homes and belongings within minutes.

For Taniela Vulimainadave, the night began like any other.

He had gone to bed with his children, unaware their lives were about to change.

He woke around midnight to the smell of thick smoke filling the house.

“At first, I didn’t understand what was happening,” he said.

“Then I realised the house is on fire.”

Panic set in as he tried to wake his three children, two cousins and others in the flat.

They were unable to stop the flames.

“It was spreading so fast. All we could do was try to save whatever we could carry and run outside,” he said.

“It was a nightmare for all of us. We knew we were losing our home, and we didn’t know what to do next or where to go from here.”

The fire quickly spread to neighbouring flats because of their close proximity, leaving all four families homeless.

Another resident, Viliame Salabogi, watched the destruction unfold.

“It was devastating to see all four families lose everything. These are people who have worked hard for what they had,” he said.