IPNEWS: Another devastating fire disaster has taken at least the lives of four children in the township of Caldwell, Benson Street, after fire engulfed the home of a family late Wednesday evening.
According to eyewitnesses the incident resulted to the tragic loss of two innocent children, after their parents had left their home for an evening church service in the suburb township.
Currently the situation has brought the entire township to a standstill, with residents mourning the loss of lives and the destruction of properties.
Despite the efforts of community dwellers to extinguish the fire before the arrival of the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS), the flames grew rapidly and made rescue attempts impossible.
An eyewitness narrates that following the noticed of fire, one of the older girls in the house said she managed to bring the two children outside the fence upon noticing the fire, however, after the fire was partially controlled, the parents began searching for their kids but could not find them until they were discovered in ashes of the fire dead.
“Eventually, the children were discovered dead in the destroyed house, neighbors ran at the church where their parents had gone for evening church service and informed them about what had happened.” An eyewitness narrates.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established but, according to a girl who lived in the house, she noticed smoke coming from a small living room and immediately alerted others before rushing outside. Hawa, the girl, is devastated and blames herself for the death of the children. The family’s home was reduced to ashes.
A man identified as Moses, the father of one of the deceased kids, was overwhelmed with grief, as it was initially reported that the children were safe at a neighbor’s home.
Neighbors could not hold back their tears as the distraught family wailed in agony for their lost children.
“This is too much and difficult to take,” a neighbor said. “The kids were playing around here just a few minutes ago and, in the twinkle of an eye, we are hearing that they are dead.”
This week, President Weah declared a week of mourning beginning Sunday, January 7, 2024 for the deaths of at least 76 citizens who lost their lives in recent gas tanker explosion in Totota, Bong County
It can be recalled that December 26, 2023, a gas tanker crashed in Totota, Lower Bong Country, about 130km (80 miles) from the capital, Monrovia, exploded leaving to the death and injury of many who had flocked to the scene to either loot leaking gasoline or watch the happening.
In an Executive Mansion release over the weekend, the Liberian leader termed the incident as disturbing and called on family members of the victims to take solace in the Lord.
President Weah encouraged all Liberians across the country to rally around the bereaved families through prayers as they go through these difficult times.
The Liberian Leader at the time expressed his deepest sympathy to the affected families and all those impacted by the unfortunate incident while calling on the nation to rally around them. He implored health authorities to use every available means at their disposal, including beefing up manpower and equipment in order to cope with the rising number of injured people.
The President described images from the incident as “deeply disturbing,” as he called on the bereaved families to take solace in the Lord.
All prelates and houses of worship are encouraged to continue to pray for the bereaved families and the injured during this period.
The Liberian Chief Executive further ordered all public buildings to fly half mask of the Liberian flag for one week as a means of remembering the dead ones.
