Southend family hit by shocking fire 'left in limbo'

Opia Hamadi and her children Hendrix, Ostara-Lilly and Opal-Elowen, fear they have been “left in limbo” after fleeing their home in Eastern Avenue moments before flames erupted from the oven. 

The devastating fire, on June 30, has left the family living out of bags in a nearby bedsit, and they have been told repairs on their home will not be completed until January next year. 

Despite being moved into the temporary accommodation by Southend Council and South Essex Homes, Opia claims she has had no contact with South Essex Homes since and feels neglected. 

She said: “It is pretty painful, we are having as much precious family time as possible, but it is a lot to have us in one little room, we are living each day as it comes.

Devastation - The starting place for the fire (Image: Opia Hamadi)

“I feel neglected completely, we have been through a lot and I have had no words in the past three weeks to even update me, the last word I heard was three days after the fire from the council, I have tried to contact them.

“I want to be moved somewhere more suitable, it is four metres by four metres and there is not much space, it Is hard and like a bedsit.”

She added that despite this, “it is a miracle” the family made their escape from the fire and has thanked the people of Southend for their enduring support

Destroyed - The fire devastated the homes ground floor (Image: Opia Hamadi)

“It has taken me aback, the people wanting to help and to give me stuff,” Opia said.

“Peoples generosity and kindness has been shown as individuals.”

Opia has returned to the property for the final time before it was gutted with surveyors last week, to gather the last salvageable items she could.

She added: “It is getting more and more difficult for us, the place we are in is not a home and my children are begging me to move back. I want to feel safe with my kids again.”

A spokesman for South Essex Homes said: "We understand the resident's concerns regarding the level of contact and living conditions in the temporary accommodation following the unfortunate house fire, thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

"We had not received any direct requests for assistance from the tenant and were not previously aware of the issues they are facing in the decanted property.  The current property that the resident is living in is a temporary measure whilst our teams prepare a suitable property for them to decant to until works to repair the fire damage are complete. 

"We are committed to ensuring that all residents are comfortable and supported during such challenging times, and we will promptly liaise with the relevant departments to address these concerns and ensure that the tenant receives a comprehensive update on the actions being taken.

"Our priority is to provide a safe and satisfactory temporary living environment for the resident, and we will take immediate steps to resolve any outstanding issues."