National

Resident: “I Lost Everything, What You See Right Now is All That I Have”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A devastating blaze leaving more than two dozen homeless overnight after flames tore through the Victoria Court Apartment Complex off Bay Street

Published

9 months ago

May 2, 2025

Delvardo Emmanuel

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A devastating blaze leaving more than two dozen homeless overnight after flames tore through the Victoria Court Apartment Complex off Bay Street.

Residents are sharing their heartbreak and frustration as they look for answers.

Dozens of fire fighters battling a blaze for hours and thousands of gallons of water wasn’t enough to tame the furious blaze that destroyed several buildings in the downtown district overnight.

One of them was the Victoria Court Complex.

Kent Forbes, who is a two-year resident of the complex, says he was at church when got the call about the fire.

Forbes says the fire moved fast.

Kent Forbes – Resident at Victoria Court Complex

“It was about 8:45 or so, and that was when the fire was still in the front of Bay Street. So being on the top floor, I could see the fire, you know, took a picture, grabbed my passport, grabbed um, my, my laptop, and run out. Probably about quarter to 10 is when the first fire truck got here “

Forbes lost everything, only managing to grab his passport and laptop before running out.

While grateful for life Forbes has many questions about how the blaze spread so quickly and the response to contain it.

Kent Forbes – Resident at Victoria Court Complex

“ It puts you in a perspective, what happens if this fire was actually at the hospital? How would we respond to that? You know? And just to see the response, it’s, it’s deplorable.”

Our News also spoke to Francisco de Cerdenas, he along with his family, lived in their Victoria Avenue home for over 30 years.

It was a painful sight to see the home he raised his 3 children in reduced to rubble.

He’s now forced to stay with a relative.

Francisco de Cerdenas – Resident at Victoria Court Complex

“I love downtown. I love that building. Um, right now my kids are away. So I was there with my, my two dogs and, um, I feel a little empty right now.”