Estimated $2 million damages in San Pedro
Eighty seven persons from 23 families are now homeless after fires in San Pedro, Corozal, and Hattieville destroyed 13 homes.
The fire in San Pedro destroyed 9 homes on Sunday, July 6. Then on Tuesday, July 8, fires destroyed two homes in the Finca Solana area, Corozal District. One home was destroyed in Hattieville that same Tuesday.
In San Pedro, 66 persons were left homeless; in Hattieville, 13 persons lost their homes and in Corozal, 9 were left homeless.
The fire on San Pedro left two persons injured – a one-month-old baby and a man who attempted to save his personal belongings and suffered a broken hand in the process of doing so. They were both treated at the San Pedro Polyclinic and released.
The damage caused by the San Pedro fire is estimated to be $2 million dollars, while the Hattieville fire resulted in an estimated $60,000 loss to the families. The losses caused by the Corozal fire are estimated to be in the region of $70,000.
The fire in San Pedro occurred about 8:30 Sunday night on Conch Shell Street in the Boca Del Rio area, while the two fires in Corozal and Hattieville occurred 15 hours apart on Tuesday.
According to the San Pedro Fire Department, the flames started from inside a two-flat building owned by Ruben Gonzalez, which was occupied by Lisber Bardalez.
Both San Pedro police and the San Pedro Fire Department announced that the cause of the fire is still unknown, and they continue their investigation. The nine buildings damaged by the fire were not insured.
In San Pedro, a massive effort to help the families affected by the fire has begun. Assessment of damages caused by the fire is being carried out by the Belize Red Cross, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the San Pedro Town Council and San Pedro police.
Daniel Guerrero, Mayor of San Pedro, said that they will be concentrating their efforts on cleaning and rebuilding. He announced that priority will be given to the provision of shelter, food and some financial help to the families.
The San Pedro Town Council is assisting with shelter and food for those in need. Each family will be given a financial donation.
NEMO is also assessing the damages in order to assist those in need, and the Red Cross is also doing an assessment to assist the victims of the fire.