At least 34 homes were destroyed in the poor area of El Hoyo near El Ejido in Santiago yesterday afternoon, Monday 11 November.
Santiago Fire Brigade spokesman Rafael Monsanto said that 25 homes were reduced to ashes and another nine were partially burned. However many other people in the area have said that their homes were damaged as well and the numbers may rise as high as 45.
Local residents are mainly poor migrants from Haiti and smaller towns in the Cibao region. Although there was a significant amount of panic there were no injuries or fatalities.
According to the emergency services, 90% of the homes were made of wood with zinc sheet roofs that enabled the fire to spread rapidly. In addition the fire engines could not put the fire out with water for lack of fire hydrants.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2013/11/11/299187/Indagan-causas-de-fuego-que-consumio-34-casas-en-Santiago