A tragic event struck the Albanian Manati family, originally from Lushnja, in Jacksonville, Florida, where three children lost their lives after their home caught fire on the morning of August 26.
The victims are 11-year-old twins and a 2-year-old. The parents and two other children in the family, a 2-month-old baby and a 9-year-old, managed to survive, but were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
The children’s uncle, in an interview for the show “With an Open Heart”, recounted the painful moments after receiving the news and the inability to see his grandchildren for years due to emigration.
“I’m waiting to leave for the USA. My grandchildren were 11 years old, but emigration separated us and I didn’t even see them when they were born, now I’m leaving to bury them,” he said, describing the family’s great pain.
According to the uncle’s testimony, the possible cause of the fire is suspected to have been a children’s toy that was left charging overnight.
“Everything happened because of a toy they bought for the children. It was charging and the battery exploded during the night,” he said.
The uncle has indicated that he has not yet been able to speak to his sister, the children’s mother, as she is in a serious psychological state after the tragedy.
“I haven’t spoken to my sister because she hasn’t been able to speak. My sister and the children are both traumatized. I can’t stand it when night comes and it gets dark,” he confessed.
According to him, he received the news of the tragedy from his young uncle.