“NEW YORK CITY’S MOST DISASTROUS FIRE”
AHC, March 9, 2007
Nine(9) African Immigrants from Mali perished in a Deadly Fire on
Wednesday, March 7, 2006 around 11 pm.
A deadly fire that killed a mother with her 3 children, including 6 months old and a three year old child. Five (5) other children also perished, 1 year old, 3, 5, 8 and 11 years old. Their mother managed to escape the blaze. Two of their siblings age 5 and 6 were rushed to the hospital.
The fire took place in a four-story house at 1022 Woodycrest Avenue in the Bronx, near 164th street and Grand Concourse. About 22 people, all from Mali, West Africa live in the building. A building owned by Mr. Moussa Magassa from Mali and was out of the country this day and was racing back, where 5 of his own children died in the blaze.
It is said to be caused by a space heater that sparked the fire in the ground floor bedroom. With only one staircase, no fire escape, no sprinklers and no batteries on the two building’s smoke alarm. The wife called her husband and cried over his cell phone that there was fire. He then advised his wife to find a safe place with the children. Right after, he called 911.
March 11, 2007
Girl, 7, becomes 10th to die from Bronx fire
NEW YORK - Bronx fire claimed its 10th victim when a 7-year-old girl died after a two-day battle for her life, a family spokesman said Saturday.
Asimi Soumare became the fourth child in her family to die in the blaze that also killed her mother, said a family spokesman, Sheikh Moussa Drammeh.
Mamadou Soumare the father has now lost his spouse and all of their children. |
As many other immigrant groups in New York City, this family came here in searching for jobs for better life.
This is a call in the African community to be unified and to bring support and resources to the remaining family.
AHC staff and Board Members were at the seen and we just want to let you know that this is a major tragedy for the African Community.
Currently, AHC staff and the Board of Directors are working to mobilize support and resources for the family.
For information on how you can help this family, please contact AHC at 212-862-9010 or send your email to info@afriquehope.org
|
