Fire destroys homes and church in SHP

Lumbi community leader and victim Job Pusa *(pink shirt)* with some of his relatives at the scene. They lost approximately properties worth of K200,000 in the blaze (Supplied)

A tragic fire fueled by strong winds has left a family in Southern Highlands province homeless and destitute after destroying several homes, a church, and properties estimated to worth over K200,000.

The disastrous incident occurred at Lumbi village in the Imbonggu district.

According to local sources, the fire ignited when an elderly villager used fire to clear garden debris. A sudden surge of strong wind carried embers across to a nearby traditional kunai-thatched roof, quickly setting it ablaze and causing the fire to spread uncontrollably across the compound.

Speaking to NBC News, victim Job Pusa confirmed the catastrophic scale of the disaster. The fire completely destroyed his permanent house, six additional houses, and a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church building.

Beyond the loss of shelter, Mr. Pusa said a high-capacity generator that provided power services to the people, two chainsaws and specialized construction tools belonging to relatives employed with a local construction firm, all household belongings and domestic animals were all destroyed.

“The estimated cost of the properties and assets lost in the fire is around K200,000," Mr. Pusa stated, describing the heartbreak of seeing decades of hard work wiped out in minutes.

He stressed that the tragedy strikes at a time when the country is already struggling under the oppressive weight of an ongoing El Niño-induced drought. Local water sources in Lumbi village have completely dried up, and food gardens have failed, leaving people in a highly vulnerable state.

"While we were trying to cope with this dire situation, the fire struck and put us in an even more desperate position," Mr. Pusa said, describing his family as left completely homeless and helpless.

Mr. Pusa has issued an urgent plea to the Southern Highlands Provincial Disaster Committee and humanitarian organizations for swift relief assistance as they are facing immediate homelessness and a lack of basic supplies.

With water and food scarce due to the drought, the affected community members without prompt government intervention and emergency supplies, the displaced families face life-threatening hardship.