Three persons were hospitalised following an early morning fire at Vreed-en-hoop that destroyed a two-storey building which housed a private restaurant and the ABC Chinese Restaurant on Tuesday.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, two women, Danielle Williams – 43 and Charlene Williams – 42 escaped from the top flat of the building while Wang Jiahai – 50 was rescued by firefighters from the ground floor where the restaurant is located. The Ministry had initially reported that three persons were missing.
Wang, the statement said sustained multiple second-degree burns to his face, abdomen, and lower extremities. He was transported to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he remains hospitalised for observations.
The fire which started at 3:07 hrs destroyed the top and ground floor of the wooden and concrete two-storey structure. However, the fighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to the adjoining one-storey building in the yard.
The ground floor was used as both the restaurant and private residence for Wang. In the adjoining building, Vigay Gaindalall operates an ice cream parlour.
The persons have been left homeless because of the fire, the origin of which is still under investigation.