MONCIÓN, SANTIAGO RODRÍGUEZ, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – JUNE 25, 2025 Tragic house fire struck the Gurabo neighborhood, completely destroying one home and taking the life of the woman who lived there. Her husband, 60-year-old Adriano de Jesús Espinal, told authorities that the fire started just minutes after he left the house. His wife, 44-year-old Nancy Leonarda Cerda Torres, was unable to escape in time. She suffered from extreme obesity, which significantly limited her mobility and ultimately prevented her from getting out.
The rapid spread of the fire was likely fueled by the building materials used in the house, including wood and zinc sheets. By the time firefighters arrived, the house was almost entirely consumed by flames. Nancy’s body was found burned beyond recognition, in a state known as carbonization. Authorities are now investigating what sparked the blaze.
