Tragedy in Laventille
Two lives were extinguished yesterday in a midday fire at Prizgar Lands, Laventille. Dead are Joyce Edwards, 83, and Akeil Mota, five, both of Readymix Private Road. The two perished after a blaze broke out in a bedroom of Edwards' house around noon, when they were trapped in the burning structure.
Akeil, the only child of Akida Mota, was reportedly spending the day with Edwards because he had no school and was fond of the woman everyone called Mama. Akeil's body was later found crouched in a cupboard in a bedroom, while Edwards' body was found lying just inside the front door.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian at the scene around 1.30 pm, Edwards' grandson Adrian described her as a "loving and caring person, always looking out for people in the area." Shaking his head in disbelief, Adrian, who lives in La Horquetta, said he was alerted about the tragic incident after a neighbour heard his mother screaming and called him on his cell to say something was wrong with her.
Arriving at the scene around 2 pm, Akida Mota began screaming after she learnt of her son's fiery death. Calling for her baby, Mota had to be stopped from entering the still-smouldering house, as fire officials and police awaited the arrival of the district medical officer. Shortly after, neighbours were seen leading her away as she kept fainting and appeared disoriented.
Acting Assistant Divisional Fire Officer Francis Charles said a call was received around 12.10 pm that a house at Readymix Road was alight, and tenders from Wrightson Road and Morvant fire stations responded. Charles said by the time they arrived, the house had been well engulfed. Charles said they were two people had been trapped, and all efforts were made to rescue Edwards and Mota.
Confirming where the bodies had been found, Charles said Akeil might have tried to hide, while Edwards had probably run to the front door to try and open it to escape. Unable to say how the fire started, Charles said they would not rule out foul play as officers would have to sift through the ashes before determining the cause of the blaze.