A joyous atmosphere of the festive season has been shattered for 19 displaced families residing at Windhoek's Katutura Youth Complex.

A destructive fire tore through their place of residence, leaving families devastated and homes reduced to ashes.

Community members made efforts to extinguish the fire despite the challenge of the water tap being approximately 100 metres away.

The emergency services responded to the distress call, deploying firefighters to tackle the inferno.

Despite their swift efforts, multiple homes went up in flames, leaving some with nothing but photos of their loved ones. 

A mother with four children found it challenging to control her emotions as she recited the unfolding event.

Tinda Ueripuraije has been residing here since 2020, when the government relocated them.

He shared that he worked hard to build his life, but the devastating fire resulted in the loss of everything he had built.

Esme Shiona experienced distress when her three-year-old daughter woke her up amid thick smoke, preventing her from sleeping. 

In a desperate attempt to ensure survival, she had to quickly move her daughter out of the tent.

Fortunately, her daughter is now safe.

The residents suffered significant losses, including valuable items such as phones, beds, and food intended for the coming days.

Regrettably, Tirumbi sustained injuries due to the fire.

Although an ambulance transported him to the hospital, he purportedly did not receive assistance and returned to find his home burned to the ground.

The aftermath of the blaze has left the affected families in dire need of assistance.