KINDHEARTED members of the community are rallying around to help a needy Bahraini family, comprising four young children and their elderly grandmother, who were rescued from a burning apartment in Budaiya on Saturday.
They have been moved to a temporary accommodation in Seef District as they await a forensic fire report prepared by the Civil Defence, which is mandatory for the Housing Ministry to commence relocation procedures.
The GDN reported yesterday about the blaze in the apartment, which led to six people suffering from smoke inhalation.
Area councillor Mohammed Al Dossari told the GDN that he rushed to the scene upon receiving panicked phone calls from neighbours after the fire broke out in apartment 31 in building 1927.
“The family members were saved by the grace of God and the efforts of the Civil Defence and men in the neighbourhood who rushed to help them,” Mr Al Dossari said.
“When I arrived at the scene, I saw firemen battling the flames. The elderly grandmother and four children who suffered from smoke inhalation were immediately taken into ambulances for transfer to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC).
“Thankfully, they are all safe and discharged and we have arranged for a temporary apartment in Seef District for BD20 a day while the authorities commence relocation procedures.
“I have taken some groceries to the family in their temporary apartment, but more assistance is required from those with kind hearts to help this family who don’t have a source of income or a breadwinner.”
According to Mr Al Dossari, the apartment belonged to the Housing Ministry.
In a video documenting the damages to the apartment, black soot can be seen covering the walls while charred furniture, clothing and other items lie scattered in the property.
He added that the Civil Defence has launched a probe to determine the cause of the blaze.
Meanwhile, a family relative and a neighbour – who chose to be identified only as Um Mohammed – told the GDN that ‘it was a miracle the young boys – all aged under six – and their elderly grandmother survived the fire’.
“I live in the apartment across from the family and we have no idea how the fire started, but it just erupted and smoke filled the apartment,” she told the GDN.
“The children’s mother and her sister weren’t in the apartment when the fire broke out and only the grandmother – who suffers from asthma and other chronic illnesses – was with the young children.
“She just went to the bathroom and came out when smoke filled the apartment. She panicked and rushed to carry the children out of the building with the help of neighbours.
“They were taken to SMC and the children were reunited with their mother and aunt – who are both divorced – in their temporary accommodation. We gathered money for rent while they were being relocated.”
reem@gdnmedia.bh
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