Zona Colonial fire destroys home and vehicles in Santo Domingo

A major fire in the Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo destroyed a wooden residence and two commercial establishments on Arzobispo Portes Street during the early hours of Sunday. The blaze, which reportedly began around 4:30 a.m., also damaged a second concrete building and destroyed several vehicles, including a 2021 Citroën.

A family of four, including two children, managed to escape the flames and were not injured, though they were left without their home, belongings, or means of livelihood. The father, a mechanic, lost his professional tools, and his daughter, a medical student, lost essential academic materials.

Community leaders and residents have criticized the emergency response, alleging that the fire department arrived approximately 45 minutes after the incident began and that the initial unit arrived without sufficient water. Local residents suggested the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in an electrical cable that had been previously reported.

In response to the tragedy, content creator Ann Mercedes has launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist the family with reconstruction and the replacement of lost items.