Latest update April 11th, 2025 6:13 AM
Father, children burnt to death in house fire
By Shervin Belgrave
Kaieteur News – A father and his two young children were on Friday morning burnt to death after their Drysdale Street, Charlestown home went up in flames.
Dead are 40-year-old Michael Richards, his six-year-old daughter, Somaya Richards and four-year-old son, Supreme Richards.
Dead: Somaya Richards
Dead: Supreme Richards
Scenes at the deadly Charlestown fire
According to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the fire started around 06:45hrs. Richards’ wife was not home and had just left the house for work. Neighbours living close by recalled hearing an explosion coming from the man’s home before seeing flames. Kaieteur News understands that fire erupted in the bottom flat and trapped the man and his children.
The man’s elder son, Nick Richards, who does not live with the family, said that he learnt after arriving on the scene, that his father was seen attempting to run out of the building but could not escape. His father reportedly ran back into the building and was never seen again.
Firefighters had arrived on the scene around 06:48 hrs and managed to extinguish the blaze but could not save the trio and the building from being partially destroyed.
Richards’ wife after learning of the tragedy reportedly rushed back to scene and when she arrived fainted and collapsed to the ground. Her son, Nick who was fighting to hold back tears said, “…Is ma father at the end of the day and duh is ma lil sister and lil brother…ah love them. Only yesterday ma lil buddy tell me he miss me and a know ma sister miss me too, look wuh a gah wake up to the next morning”
Dead: Michael Richards
It is unclear at this time what caused the deadly fire but persons living in the area accused the Richards family of “stealing electricity” and suspect that the illegal connection could have started the fire
Meanwhile, fire investigators said that the building was heavily grilled and that it may have contributed to the victims dying in the fire.
Investigations are ongoing.
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