Disasters - Channel 5 Belize

Family of 13 Displaced After Fire

On Friday, a family of thirteen in Trio Village was left without a home after a fire destroyed the building completely. That afternoon, around two-thirty p.m., thirty-three-year-old Yuri Choc, her sister, mother, and ten children were at home when a burning fly repellant started a fire somewhere in the house. Yuri Choc, who was inside at the time of the fire, spoke with us today about the incident.

On the Phone: Yuri Choc, Fire Victim

“You see when they start to burn the thing I think like Sabana. It just ketch fire and then we see the. We deh inside that da when we see the ashes inside. And then my mom and we run outside and we see the house done ketch fire.”

Britney Gordon

“Did anyone get injured?”

On the Phone: Yuri Choc

“No, ma’am.“

Britney Gordon

“Nobody got hurt? Okay.”

On the Phone: Yuri Choc

“No.”

Britney Gordon

“And what about, you know, all of your belongings? Were you able to save anything?”

On the Phone: Yuri Choc

“No. We never save nothing. And only we kitchen stuff and nothing. We never save nothing. But only paper we try take that important. We documents.”

Britney Gordon

“So how many people were in the house at the time?”

On the Phone: Yuri Choc

“Only ten.”

Britney Gordon

“Ten people, and you all made it out safely.”

On the Phone: Yuri Choc

“And the kids they with my mom because they can’t get in with the fire because they could get burned. Da dih house we need because I cya stay with my kids with no house and I cya stay with no people. It hurt. We noh got house. And I no have nobody to help me. If my pa mi alive maybe he could help we out brt we noh have nobody fi help we because my pa pass away and my husband pass away. What I need da my house,”

Choc and her family can be reached at the number six-six-five-eight-five-five-seven.

Mother and Infant Son Perish in Fire

On Friday, we reported on a Belize City fire that destroyed a house on Raccoon Steet, injuring Malika August and her two-year-old son, Jayden. Tonight, there is sad news to report following that incident. Both victims have succumbed to their injuries. On Saturday, around four twenty p.m., two-year-old Jayden August was pronounced dead at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he was receiving treatment, and the following day, around eight p.m., Malika August also passed. For more details on what caused this tragic incident, we spoke with Kenneth Motis of the National Fire service for more details on the incident.

Kenneth Mortis, Station Officer, National Fire Service

“As protocol, we got into operation extinguishing the fire. And shortly after our investigation comments we learned that the building was occupied by two adults on a minor, namely miss Malika August and mister Michael Gill and two-year-old baby boy. During the Early stages before the fire department’s arrival, the mother and son were rushed to the hospital after we learned that they receive extensive fire damage to varying parts of their body. As the nation knows, since the weekend happened, both mother and daughter, both mother and son lost their lives as a result of the burns that they suffered which leads us to believe as a fire department, as a community. What safety measures do we have in place when faced with these types of situations? Prior to getting into to the cars the structure was built In such a way that it had actually one door which served its main entrance and exit. We learned that it is alleged the stove was left on and for some unknown reason, the mother, she went to take a nap and wind caught a whiff of that open flames. Using the curtain as a ignition source. So we’re looking at an open flame and sitting right next to that open flame was a butane tank. It was just a disaster waiting to happen. It’s again, it’s an unfortunate, fortunate event, a very sad one at that. We’re looking at an eighteen-year-old young mother and her son and that’s two lives gone way, way too early.”

Mother and Son Injured in Fire

This morning, a mother and her child were injured when their home erupted in flames while they were sleeping. The incident occurred around nine-thirty a.m. on Raccoon Street near Central American Boulevard. After hearing a disturbance, several neighbors rushed to assist before alerting authorities. Fortunately, the mother and her son were able to escape, however, they were burned during the process and were not able to recover any of their possessions. News Five’s Britney Gordon was at the scene today to gather more details. Here’s the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Marsha Dawson, a resident of Raccoon Street for over seventeen years, was carrying out her morning routine when a commotion nearby startled her. At first, she wasn’t sure what the commotion was but upon seeing flames at her neighbors, she and her husband rushed to the scene to assist.

Voice of: Marsha Dawson, Neighbor of Fire Victim

“Well this morning, I get up and I mi di do some washing, and I look through the window, because I mi hear like something like a gunshot, so I look through the window, and but I noh see nothing. So I peep cross to my neighbor’s house, I look and I see smoke come out through the front door. So after that, I hail my husband, I tell he, I said, baby, fire. So by the time we left my room, reached to the front door, we sih fire to come out of the front door. So my husband tell me mek we get a bucket. So he get to a bucket full of water and he run over here. And when we come, the young lady dih cry, said that his son is upstairs. And we come two ah ney get bad burn.”

The house belonged to Michael Gill, more commonly referred to as “Bibby”. Dawson said that he has owned the house for over twenty years and the woman, and her infant son had only been living in the house for a few months. Together with her husband, she did her best to assist the neighbors with limited resources.

Britney Gordon

“Who all was here to help extinguish the flames?”

Voice of: Marsha Dawson

“Me and my husband, we were the first two with a bucket of water?”

Britney Gordon

“And did anyone call the fire department? When did they get here?”

Voice of: Marsha Dawson

“Well, I call the police fih tell ney fih assist me call the fire truck. So they say everything de pan dih way. You know, they neva tek too long. They reach a reasonable time. Carry the young lady, the police, take her in the hospital.”

According to neighbors, the residents received severe burns and are currently still recovering in the hospital. The source of the fire is still unknown.

Reporter

“What kind of injuries did the young lady receive her and the toddler?”

Voice of: Marsha Dawson

“Some bad burns where I see. Her entire body, face. Ih foot, ih hand, ih chest.”

Reporter

“I know she was disoriented, but did she say what may have caused the fire? Where did it start?”

Voice of: Marsha Dawson

“No, she mean as shock cause when I call her, she just stand up. Just say watch me, and they say nothing. Nothing, nothing.”

As the family was unable to recover anything, the community is appealing to the public to assist in any way possible.

Britney Gordon

“Do you know what kind of losses she accumulated here? Was she able to recover anything?”

Voice of: Marsha Dawson

“Lost everything, everything, everything. Nothing’s here.”

As her neighbor lost her phone in the fire, Dawson can be contacted at the number 6145-1679 for donations. Britney Gordon for News Five.

No Belizean Injured or Displaced in Taiwan 7.4 Tremor

Taiwan suffered a seven-point-four earthquake on Wednesday morning. The tremor, which struck in Hualien County, was the most violent in the last twenty-five years to hit the island nation. Taiwan, which lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to frequent earthquakes. This most recent one has claimed at least ten lives, left more than a thousand injured, toppled buildings, and triggered landslides in the mountainous regions. Luckily, none of our Belizeans who are studying or working in Taiwan were hurt or displaced. Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca told News Five that immediately after the earthquake, his office contacted the Belize Embassy in Taiwan as well as Taiwan’s Embassy in Belize.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“When we heard about the earthquake, we engaged immediately with our ambassador in Taiwan, Dr Candice Pitts, as well as the Taiwanese Embassy here in Belize. I reached out personally to the ambassador here in Belize and they both provided us with updates on a regular basis. We certainly – of course, our prayers and thoughts are with the people of Taiwan. We are happy to report that none of our students were affected in any material way by the earthquake, thankfully. Of course, they were – some of them were shaken by the experience. A few of them slept through it. So we’re happy that all of our students are, doing well. Our embassy, our ambassador and her staff are doing well. They suffered in Taiwan, the country suffered some damage, structural damage, and of course any loss of life is, regrettable, but we’re happy to note that based on our reports, that their loss of life was limited to, I think, ten.”

Belizeans Experience 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake in Taiwan

Taiwan was rattled by a seven-point four magnitude earthquake. This is the strongest tremor that has hit the island nation in more than twenty-five years. At least nine persons have been confirmed dead with hundreds more injured. Authorities have issued warnings of potential aftershocks in the coming days. Many Belizeans are in Taiwan and News Five’s Hipolito Novelo spoke to one of them.

Hipolito Novelo, Reporting

Belizean teacher living in Taiwan, Melody Wagner recounted the moment she felt her building shaking. She was on the nineteenth floor when the island nation was hit by a seven point four magnitude earthquake at round eight a.m. local time on Wednesday.

Melody Wagner, Belizean Teacher Living in Taiwan

“Well, immediately, like I had to kind of regulate myself a bit because your first. First I was, I thought I was just dizzy and I was like, oh wait, it’s an earthquake. So I just kind of sat down for a bit thinking like, you know, let’s just wait until it passes because I live on the 19th floor. So it’s not really smart to try to take the elevators down. So I just kind of sat on my bed was the most safe location in my apartment. So I just sat there waiting for it to pass.”

The earthquake rattled Taiwan’s east coast, claiming the lives of at least nine individuals. Rescuers are tirelessly working to free numerous others trapped under debris caused by landslides and collapsed structures. With over 900 reported injuries and more than 100 buildings damaged, authorities are grappling with the aftermath of one of Taiwan’s strongest earthquakes in 25 years.

Melody Wagner

“From my 19th floor apartment, most earthquakes that are above five would like really have an impact. Like I would feel like I’m swaying, like I’m in a hammock kind of feeling which is quite uncomfortable, but this one was a lot more intense because more things were shaking. Like, behind me I have like shells, but you can’t really see them, but. My shelves things that I have on my shelves, some of things fell down, some of the carvings and stuff that I have up in my apartment fell down. So that made me realize, you know, this might be a bit intense. I just kept hearing like rattling and I have a mirror on my cupboard and that kept like rocking vigorously back and forth. So, it kind of made me realize maybe this is a serious one. Also the duration of it, it was a lot longer than the usual earthquakes that happened. I’ve experienced since living here.”

Wagner is one of many Belizeans living in Taiwan. She says that she got in contact with those she knows to ensure that they are safe. There have been 29 aftershocks since the quake. Forecasts suggest that tremors as powerful as magnitude 7 could occur in the coming days. The earthquake resulted in power cuts affecting more than 91,000 households. Despite this experience, Wagner says she has not reevaluated her stay in Taiwan.

Melody Wagner

“I’ve reached out to the to the people that I am close to and most of them have expressed that they’re okay. We see, um, I think Hualien is one of the greatest locations that’s been impacted. I’ve reached out to the Belizeans that I know there and most of them are, well, the ones that replied to me that I interact with have said they’re fine and everything is okay, but they post on their stories saying, you know, they’re nearby where some of the buildings collapse and stuff like that.”

Hipolito Novelo

Has this experience made you reevaluate whether you want to continue living there?

Melody Wagner

“I think short answer, no, because I feel like anywhere in the world that you choose to live, there are natural disasters that you have to contend with. In Belize, we have hurricanes. Here is earthquake center Earthquakes and typhoons. And you just have to learn how to coexist with these natural elements. So, I don’t think it should be a deterrent for anybody and for me personally, no.”

On X, Prime Minister John Briceño shared “Our thoughts are with the government, people and our friends of Taiwan”. The Belizean embassy in Taiwan saying that it responded immediately by liaising with Belizean students located in different regions in Taiwan, as well as universities where Belizean students are studying, to confirm that students are safe. The embassy said that while some Belizeans are understandably shaken emotionally, there has been no report of material effects on Belizeans. Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.

Roaring Creek Family Needs Your Help to Rebuild Their Home

A family of six from Roaring Creek Village is displaced after their home went up in smoke on Easter Sunday morning. Moises Garbutt, his wife, and their four small children had just left home to go to a neighbour’s house, where he was trying to finish a project. But less than thirty minutes later, the place they called home was on fire. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting

A young family and their four little children are depending on you to help them rebuild their home that burnt down on Easter Sunday morning. Moises Garbutt told us he was trying to help a relative fix their home when he found out that his one was ablaze.

Moises Garbutt, Fire Victim

“Everyone was over there assisting with some wooden projects and minutes after, the neighbors shouted that the house was on fire. When I came home, the whole house was total – almost totalled. Everything was almost gone.”

Garbutt says he can only assume what claimed his house.

Moises Garbutt

“I believe it’s due to the heat and some glass object that was nearby. Something like that probably caused the burner.”

Marion Ali

“Have the fire officials been here to investigate?”

Moises Garbutt

“They came and they investigate. They give me – they are not so sure, but they give me a little idea where the fire started more or less.”

Garbutt said he was not able to save anything, and his losses are significant.

Marion Ali

“How much would you say you lost?

Moises Garbutt

“About $15, $16,000 with total everything.”

Marion Ali

“And then now you’ve been displaced, so you, your wife and your kids are staying where?”

Moises Garbutt

“Everyone is staying at my aunt, we’re trying to lean on them. I’m begging for, anyone here to help anyone in the community. I need basically just a material to build another board structure or something. It doesn’t have to be the same, it doesn’t matter if it’s smaller or so, just so I can have a roof or something over my head and my family.”

If you can assist Moises Garbutt and his family to rebuild their home, you can reach him at 638 5739. Marion Ali for News Five.

Family Picking Up The Pieces After Fire Claims Home

Last Wednesday, a fire at the corner of Pickstock Street and Lovely Lane erupted around seven-forty-five p.m. destroying the home of twenty-eight-year-old Alicia Rancharan. Rancharan, her three children, and her partner were fortunately unharmed by the flames but are still in need of assistance. News Five’s Britney Gordon spoke with the mother of three today for the full story.

Britney Gordon, reporting

While many people spent the long weekend relaxing with friends or family, Alicia Rancharan and her family were processing the loss of all their possessions and the roof over their heads. In just a matter of hours, the place they had called home for the past five years was consumed by a fire that erupted late Wednesday evening. Rancharan said that she was not at home at the time of the fire due to a recent death in the family and got the call while at the repass.

Alicia Rancharan, Fire Victim

“After they had a repass, I went by, sat down with my family, my friends. While we were sitting down, someone called my mom, stated that, hey, Alicia’s house is on fire. Someone who was at the funeral with us offered me a ride home. Upon reaching to the home, where I call home, I saw my house completely engulfed in fire. I was just panicking. I did not know what to do. I started crying.”

Rancharan explained that her partner had stepped out to purchase food for the family moments before the fire and that it was her seven-year-old daughter that saved the other children.

Alicia Rancharan

“I was my three kids and my gentleman. However, he had completed a day’s work. So he decided to step out to go and get something for them to eat that night. Just less than fifty yards away. He went to buy. he said that someone came to him and tell him to go back home. When he reached back home, he saw the fire. My kids was inside. My seven-year-old girl, my four-year-old son, and my other baby girl, who’s one year old. My daughter stated that she peeped out and she saw the smoke show. She had no other option but to grab her brother and sister and take them outside. My son, not knowing what is happening, he decided to just go back inside to continue watching TV and she yelled at him. Hey, there’s a fire, we need to get out. She dragged him by the arm, took him downstairs and by the time my gentleman reached back from shop, they was already downstairs safe, thank God.”

An investigation by the Belize National Fire Service revealed that the fire started on the ground floor after a makeshift stove was tipped over by one of the building’s tenants.

Alicia Rancharan

“The neighbor, Mister Elodorio, better known as Dolo, he lives downstairs. He does not have any current. So he was I think making a lamp. hey stated that it tipped over. He did not yell for help until the whole bathroom was already engulfed in flames and the Monday before this incident took place, I saw him lighting that stuff in the pan. And I spoke to him and I said, hey, you Dolo you don’t need to be lighting that I have two lamps from the previous hurricane that I could lend you He was like, uh, no, it’s okay.”

She said that she is grateful that her family all escaped the fire safely. However, as all their possessions were lost to the flames, they are struggling to get back on their feet and are in need of assistance to do so.

Alicia Rancharan

“This took me over never thought that this would be me. I’ve seen many incidents where people are displaced by a fire. I never thought that I would have end up in this situation, but it could have been worse. I thank the Lord that my kids are safe. I rather losing materialistic items than being lost the life of any one of my kids. Everything I lost. I recently borrowed a loan from Belize Bank to finish completing my home. I recently purchased new brand sofa, refrigerator, microwave, washing machine. Everything I lost. The only thing that I was left with was that black and white clothing I had on for a funeral. My kids lost everything, their toys, their bicycles, all their footwears, everything. So, I’m just pleading to the public to render some assistance. I know that there’s still good people out there. I’m asking from the depths of my heart to help them, try and assist, whether it be food items, clothing, household, finance wise. Anything will be greatly appreciated.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

House Fire Erupts in Belize City

A fire erupted on Wednesday night in Belize City. It destroyed a house on Pickstock Street. While no injuries were reported, the inferno destroyed the belongings and property of several persons. News Five was on the scene, and reporter Britney Gordon has the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

With Easter Sunday just a few days away, Jessica Lara and her family are tonight in disbelief after a fire destroyed their neighbour’s house on Thursday night on Pickstock Street in Belize City. The fire erupted just a few feet away from Lara’s residence.

Voice of: Jessica Lara, Neighbor of Fire Victim

“So I just little while got in back from work and I was just relaxing. I heard my neighbor frantic and that’s what made me look through the window and I saw smoke and I ran downstairs and I told my mom, smoke, smoke and by the time I looked out running, running for a five gallon of water and came back up the downstairs was completely engulfed and it escalated to upstairs and that’s where it got out of hand rather quickly. So it started from the bottom.”

Lara, her mother, and her son quickly exited the house and fled from the flames. She told News Five that the upper half of her neighbour’s house was constructed from wood, which contributed to how quickly the fire spread. She says that community members helped control the blaze.

Jessica Lara

“I have to commend my community. Everybody tried their best, you know, we did what we could at the moment and tried to clear everybody out of the way so nothing happened to them and it was rough but everybody, I definitely could say, tried in somewhere the next.”

Reporter

“Do you feel that the response from the fire service was quick enough in your case? It helped you?”

Jessica Lara

“Well, in those times, I mean, it feels like an hour but I’d say when they did come. They work rather quickly because it was huge. They work fast and try to find the main spot on there. I believe they did a good job at containing, well not containing it, but outing it.”

Although her neighbours remained unharmed, Lara noted that they were unable to salvage anything from the house, even losing a dog that had been trapped on the second floor. Lara’s house sustained some water and fire damage.

Jessica Lara

“It’s more to the back of the house inside. We have a corner that everything completely well burnt, a lot of clothing, nothing much. Well, not to complain about that, but it was starting to catch in there and one of the firefighters, she went in and she went straight upstairs and tried to subside that. So otherwise just water damage and that back area, but thank God that, you know. Everything else is fine.”

Lara noted that one of the residents, Alicia Rancharan, was in the process of renovating and furnishing the house before the fire broke out. While Lara and her family are cleaning up the debris and water left in the house, she is unsure of what her neighbours will do next.

Jessica Lara

“Well, my neighbor, unfortunately, she was, she recently was trying to get all of her stuff, her couches her appliances. She hey were working really hard to get their stuff and try to build a good life, so definitely a major, major, major loss. Well, we’re trying to see how we can possibly get some help to fix the roofing and the wiring and move from there. Lots of cleaning, but thankfully we still have a structure and everything. So definitely thanks to God for everything. And I’m sure as a community and as Belizeans that we will be able to help Miss Alicia as well and her family, everything, an end can only bring a new beginning. So hoping for the best for them.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Fire Victim Needs Your Help

Early on Monday morning, a fire erupted in San Ignacio Town, catching Juan Tzib and his family off guard as they slept in their residence on Rodriguez Street. The fire originated in a “back room” within the yard, rapidly spreading and engulfing the property, leaving the family unable to salvage any belongings. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. But the Tzib family lost everything to a fire they believe was intentionally set.

Juan Tzib, Fire Victim

“So I closed the gas tank. I couldn’t find the adjustable tool to unscrew it. So I run from my machete and I cut the hose. This is a tank that is of 22 gallons, almost two three-quarters full. And I can tell you, I cannot tell you how I drug that time to the roadside, which is about roughly about 50 feet away. I guess that’s what helped in for the blaze not to get worse but at that time the fire was already coming into the house,. Well, everybody ran out, so we couldn’t save nothing, nothing at all. It is being confirmed by many people that I guess they saw something or know something or have heard something about it. That’s what they’re saying that is, is that guy that did it and I’ll tell you the truth when that fire started and I was on the roadside watching it deeply in my heart, I believe it was him. Nothing takes that away from me that it was him. And like I said, people are confirming to me that it was him.”

If you would like to assist Tzib and his family, you can contact them at six-two-one-four-one-seven-nine.