Belize City house collapses with family of twelve

A house occupied by twelve persons collapsed Monday night in Belize City. A few of the occupants were on the veranda playing dominoes when it fell off its pillars. They were shook up and the children inside were traumatized. Pooling their resources, the extended Polanco family realized that they could save a few dollars and moved in to the house about five months ago. While they hoped for minor damages, when the massive rain poured through the house this morning, they realized they were out of luck. Twenty-one year old Kendra Polanco, spoke of the ordeal she and her family experienced in the night.

Kendra Polanco, House Collapsed
“We hear this commotion and this big collapse. First thing I look, I look inna di house but before I could even look inna di house I done gone soh and I drop pan di ground. First I mi think dah my glass table get bruck so I just mi wah start rail up like weh I usually do but anyways when I look di whole thing and all I know I mi deh pan di street. I noh even know how I get out, all I know I mi deh pan di street. My bwai end up di pull me off ah di veranda. Den when I look round and I si di damage weh happen to di house, I gone inna di kitchen; di whole cabinet come down. Dis morning when we wake up and di rain start dah den we realize dat di whole roof crack because when we look inna di room dah just like you di stand up inna di rain and di wata di come down inna di bathroom. Inna my sister-in-law room, di whole crib wet up, di whole flooring wet up, everything wet up. Yoh go inna my sista room—di only room weh di survive so far dah my room and dat small, dah noh like three ah we could fit in deh.”

Lydia Ray, Gave House to Relatives
“Actually I was going to sell this property but when I found out my family, my niece and nephew needed a place to stay, I decided to just give it over to them. The house needed renovation and the post needed to fix so. They just start moving in and I told them make sure that they get it fixed. So my niece here, which I gave the house to her, she was going to her area representative for help some time I don’t know really when. But it seems as if she didn’t get any help. Mr. Finnegan and I think Mr. Patrick Faber is the area representative, between the two of you both, can you please, please assist the family that is living in this house. Just please assist them in any way that you can.”

News Five spoke to Area Rep. Patrick Faber late this evening and he said that he is aware of the situation.