SWAKOPMUND – Close to 91 learners of the Marienheim hostel run by the Roman Catholic Church miraculously escaped death on Sunday afternoon when their hostel was gutted by fire causing extensive damage.
The fire allegedly started in the girls hostel when an unknown person who has not been identified set a curtain on fire. Clear footprints believed to be that of an adult person were also noticed around the area where the curtain was set alight. According to Father Anthony Spencer learners alerted the nuns in charge of the hostel about a curtain that was burning in one of the girls’ rooms shortly after the learners attended mass at the church opposite the hostel. “The fire was extinguished and the learners went to eat after which they went to play outside. On Sundays the hostel is normally locked and the learners play outside or watch television in an adjacent building.
However, some girls noticed smoke coming from the boys hostel and alerted the nuns. This was around 14h00,” Father Spencer explained Monday morning to New Era. He went on to say that the children also informed the caretaker who instructed the nuns to switch on the main electricity supply, before summoning the Swakopmund Fire brigade.
The fire destroyed a bathroom and at least 5 bedrooms that accommodated 42 boys. No one was injured during the fire but 13 children were treated for shock and smoke inhalation. The fire destroyed most of the belongings of the children, which include clothing, stationery and bedding. According to Father Spencer, the church has no choice but to send the learners whose parents are based in Swakopmund back to their families and to try and accommodate only those coming from nearby towns such as Walvis Bay, Arandis and Henties Bay. Meanwhile, the church is searching for funds to construct a new hostel facility for the boys.
According to Father Spencer the cost of the damage has not yet been determined, but the church will have to knock down what remains of the hostel in order to rebuild. He is appealing to all businesses and communities at the coast to render support to the church in order to reconstruct the ruined hostel. A case of arson is currently being investigated.
By Eveline de Klerk