Tragedy at El Café de Herrera: fire claims the life of a five-year-old child

Santo Domingo Oeste. – A fire that occurred this Tuesday before noon in the El Café de Herrera sector left as a result the death of a five-year-old child, who lost his life after being trapped inside his home while the flames spread rapidly.

According to preliminary versions offered by family members and community members, the fire would have started accidentally, presumably when the minor was playing with a lighter. In the midst of the panic, the child would have tried to take refuge under a bed, but did not manage to escape the fire. Also at the scene was a 12-year-old minor, who left the house to alert her grandmother about what had happened. However, upon returning, the fire had already consumed a large part of the house, located on Mamá Tingó street, an area of difficult access in the aforementioned sector. Neighbors tried to extinguish the flames, but the intensity of the fire and the speed with which it spread made rescue impossible. The house was completely destroyed. The child's father, who was working outside the city, arrived hours later visibly affected, while the mother had to be removed from the scene due to her emotional state. The minor was the couple's eldest child, who also has a two-year-old daughter. Agents from the Central Directorate of Criminal Investigations (Dicrim) arrived at the scene and carried out the corresponding investigation to precisely establish the causes of the fire. Family members described the child as cheerful and affectionate, and requested support for the material losses suffered by the family, who are going through a limited economic situation.