Families affected by Colonial City fire begin receiving government assistance
Santo Domingo.- Families who lost part of their homes and belongings in a fire in Santo Domingo’s Colonial City have begun receiving government assistance after Edgar Augusto Féliz Arbona, director of the Directorate of Social Assistance and Community Food (DASAC), visited the area to assess the situation.
Féliz Arbona met with Emely Núñez and other affected residents, who showed him the condition of their homes following the fire. He assured them that DASAC would address their most immediate needs and coordinate with other government institutions when additional assistance is required.
Among the first measures announced is the replacement of household goods lost in the fire.
“We will immediately provide them with all the household goods they lost,” Féliz Arbona said, explaining that the assistance is part of DASAC’s mandate to support people in vulnerable situations.
Fire affected homes, businesses and vehicles
The fire occurred during the early hours of Sunday, September 20, on Arzobispo Portes Street, near Regina Alley, in Santo Domingo’s Colonial City. Reports indicate that the blaze destroyed a home and a business, affected another residence and damaged four vehicles.
One of the most affected residents, Emely Núñez, and her son suffered burns during the incident. Núñez said the fire began after a power strip connected inside the home apparently exploded, amid what she described as repeated fluctuations in the electricity supply. She said the issue had previously been reported to the electricity distributor Edeeste.
Other residents also reported previous electrical problems in the area, including damage to electrical appliances. However, the official cause of the fire has not yet been established. One affected resident told Diario Libre that authorities should await the report from the Fire Department before determining the origin of the blaze.
Following the incident, technicians from the Ministry of Housing and Buildings and Edeeste were working in the area while authorities evaluated the condition of the affected structures. Edeeste technicians also installed new electricity meters at some of the affected properties.
Féliz Arbona said DASAC will coordinate with other state institutions to address needs that exceed the agency’s capacity. He added that the visit was carried out following instructions from President Luis Abinader to maintain assistance for families affected by emergencies.
