Three families were left homeless after a fire gutted down a nine roomed Budiriro house destroying everything inside, although nobody was injured.
On August six the Mapanga and Makono family lost property worth thousands of USD$ and their home when their home caught fire from a suspected gas cylinder explosion.
Those close to the families said a car which was parked in the yards carport caught fire when a gas cylinder which was stored in boot allegedly exploded.
“The blast flipped the car, it then ignited several other LP gas cylinders that were being used in the house, then the whole house was in flames,” said an eye witness.
According to Julius Mapanga who also lost his wares in the fire, owing to the explosion many people in panic mode ran for cover for fear of their lives.
“People were trying to escape, I was so terrified, I ran and left everything in the house,” he said.
Another victim Mr Max Makono who stays with his family at the same house lost his furniture and work tools.
“I lost my sewing machine, grass cutter and a knapsack that I used for spraying. These were my means of survival so as it stands it is a difficult situation for me and my family,” he said.
The affected victims of the house pleaded with the authorities for urgent intervention as they have been left homeless by the inferno. The fire destroyed the whole 9 roomed house.
The day after the fire there was a sombre atmosphere as the victims tried to come to terms with the loss of their valuables.
By Nontokozo Ncube