Two people are feared dead after a massive fire swept through Puruni Landing, a Mazaruni riverine community in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), and devastated the community by wiping out 15 buildings, among which were several business premises, hotels and residences.
The fire that wreaked havoc in Region Seven
The conflagration commenced on Wednesday at about 10:40h, and has left significant damage in its wake. Among the buildings destroyed are those belonging to Yvette McDonald of Enmore, East Coast Demerara, whose properties included three hotels, a restaurant, a nightclub, and a fuel bond. McDonald’s “Miners Choice” establishment, where the fire is believed to have originated during a fuel sale, also stored and sold gasoline and diesel.
Floyd Elcock, another businessman, has lost his hotel, restaurant, and grocery store. Additional structures, including a drug store owned by Otis McKenzie and a residence belonging to William Cozier, were also consumed by the flames.
Initial reports suggest that the fire was ignited when a worker at “Miners Choice” accidentally spilled fuel during a transaction. The flames quickly spread across the compound and caught on to nearby buildings.
Authorities have expressed concern that two individuals may have perished in the blaze, but this has not yet been confirmed because the buildings have been extensively damaged. The scene was visited by Police Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Dion Moore and other officials.
Firefighters and public-spirited individuals from the community used a dredge engine to source water from the Puruni River to help control the fire, but the destruction was extensive by the time the fire was contained.
Fire Chief Gregory Wickham told <<Guyana Times>> on Wednesday that firefighters had to travel from Bartica to the Puruni area, since there is no fire station in the area. That travel usually takes more than two hours.
This latest fire at Puruni comes less than a year after a similar incident had occurred in the same area, when a fire that originated in a Chinese supermarket’s generator room had spread to and destroyed several surrounding buildings.
Despite efforts by the Home Affairs Ministry to strengthen fire prevention measures in remote areas of the region, the vulnerability of businesses and residences remains a major concern. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire. (G9)
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