BY ALEX DADAMU
SIX (6) families had been made homeless by a fire incident yesterday evening at Mu’u village in Kirakira station, Makira/Ulawa Province, losing all their personal belongings plus a total number of forty (40) people being affected including both men, women, and children.
According to Eddie Quiro of the Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (PDOC), Provincial Disaster Management Office, Makira Ulawa Provincial Government in Kirakira, said the victims have lost all their personal properties as they focused more on life-saving than belongings thus results in no casualties recorded.
“An urgent emergency meeting has been convened this afternoon with PDOC priority focus on Shelter, food, and NFIs.
“MUPG through the Provincial Disaster Management Office budget for 2021 had allocated $10,000-00 for response support to victims,” Mr. Quiro said.
He added that a wheelbarrow drive is also scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, 11th October at 1:00 pm in aid of the fire victims.
He further added that the first batch of food items had been dispatch to the affected families this evening.
“The Provincial planning team lead by the provincial planning specialist is currently working on a short/long term response, recovery and rehabilitation plan and timeframe.
“Shelter and accommodation have been identified as to where the affected families can reside for the next couple of weeks,” Mr. Quiro said.
In the meantime, the Makira Ulawa province special fund account with Bank South Pacific (BSP) will be used for donations from friends, wantok, and others who might be thinking of giving assistance to those affected.
It is understood that the building which was razed to the ground by fire is a family-owned guest house at Mu’u village in Kirakira, Makira province.
According to one victim account this evening, the fire is believed to have started from a candle from one of the upper floor rooms after the accommodation cash power went off.
