HOME OWNER’S NEWLY RENOVATED HOUSE BURNS
Afamily of six lost everything after their fourbedroom house was burnt at Valebasoga in Labasa yesterday. Unaisi Laivou, the owner of the house, received a call from her uncle, in the neighbourhood, around 12:30pm. “I am a primary school teacher at Tabucola Valibar Sangam Primary School in Labasa,” Ms Laivou said. “When I received the sad news I quickly picked up my eldest daughter who is in Year Four and rushed home.” The mother of two said by the time she reached home, her mother, Kalisita Baulawa, was in tears.
“In this house lived my parents, husband, two daughters and myself,” the 34-year-old said.
“We have been living in this house since 1999 and last year I spent so much money to carry out the renovation.
“I am really sad and don’t know how will I rebuild the house.”
She said her husband was a farmer and away from home at the time of the incident.
Ms Baulawa, 58, said after cooking she left the house to visit her neighbour across the road who needed her assistance.
“After 10 minutes someone alerted that they could see smoke coming out from the house,” Ms Baulawa said. “I quickly ran but couldn’t save anything.”
Ms Laivou and her family are now sheltered at her uncle’s place in the neighbourhood.
Meanwhile, Divisional Police Commander (DPC) Northern Senior Superintendent of Police confirmed that his officers together with National Fire Authority officers attended to the incident and were carrying out an investigation.