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Voices of the Community: Stories of Loss and Fear
Residents who experienced the fire firsthand spoke openly about the panic and grief they felt. Many described waking to shouts from neighbors or noticing smoke suddenly filling the sky. Some fled their homes carrying only children or pets. Others remembered intense heat as they navigated through narrow walkways.
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“We built our house little by little, saving whatever we could. Now we must start again.”
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“My children lost all their school materials and belongings.”
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“The explosions made everything worse—we didn’t understand what was happening.”
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“We tried to save our neighbors’ homes, but the fire moved too fast.”
Some families had lived in the community for decades. Others were newer arrivals who had migrated in search of stability or job opportunities. For all, the fire represented a loss not only of property but of safety, familiarity, and the sense of home they had built over time.
Emergency Shelters and the Search for Aid
When the fire was finally extinguished, hundreds of residents gathered in open spaces, some holding bags of rescued belongings and others left without anything at all. Local authorities, humanitarian organizations, and neighborhood associations quickly organized assistance for those displaced.
Emergency support included:
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Temporary shelters
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Food and bottled water
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First-aid services
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Psychological support teams, especially for children
Despite these efforts, the needs surpassed the available supplies. Many families spent the night outdoors, exposed to cold evening temperatures typical of Lima’s coastal climate. Volunteers and neighbors from surrounding districts mobilized to provide additional donations, clothing, food, and other essentials. Social media also played an important role by facilitating community-led support initiatives.
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