Property worth hundreds of millions was on Monday reduced to ashes after fire broke out in Casuarina area within the resort area of Malindi town.
The fire allegedly started after electric fault outside Kenga Jama house in Casuarina at around one o’clock in the afternoon before spreading far and burnt another cottage over 500 meters away.
Nothing could be saved from the fire which was so big and spread so fast due to the strong winds and coconut roof.During the fire reports indicate that some goons took advantage of the disaster and begun looting property instead of helping try to save the properties from being damaged.
Nicola Mosca Italian the owner of Kenga Jama house told journalists that his resort with a capacity of 33 rooms had over 25 guests 90 percent of them locals.
Speaking at the hotel he said many guests were relaxing while others were having good time at the swimming pool.
Mosca said he saw sparks from the KPLC lines which spread to the Makuti roof and within a short time there was a huge fire which could not be contained.
He said efforts to call assistance from the Kilifi County Fire brigade team went futile as they responded very late after the disaster had already destroyed everything.
Apart from the houses he said the fire burnt down two vehicles one of them very new and a Motorcycle 600 cc which were parked outside.
“We did not get any help, we had a hard time rescuing our guests some from the back stage,” he said.
Mosca said the loss is estimated to be more than 700,000 Euro which he had invested at the resort.
“We need to be ready, this is an African place people come for holiday, authorities must be organized to deal with disasters,’’ he said.
At Dorado cottages more than 20 rooms were reduced to ashes after the fire spread to their hotel from Kenga Jama resort.
Ignas Mchama a manager at the resort said he was seated in his office and someone knocked and informed him there was fire in the hotel.
He said luckily there were no guests as the hotel was closed but the damage was big.
“When I Came out of the office I found the roof was burning and it spread very fast,’’ he said.
Mchama said they tried to call Kilifi County Government fire station and even the Malindi Airport but did not get any support.
“The fire disaster team in Malindi must available 24 hours what we witnessed is not acceptable,’ he said.
Mary Wanjiku who is a neighbiour of Kenga Jama was lucky her house did not burn and thanked G0od for saving her property.
She thanked the G4S security team, police, and other security organizations that were in the forefront of countering goons.