I will never get over watching my home of 13 years burn down

I will never get over watching – The aftermath of Tuesday’s violence in Belfast has left families grappling with the emotional and physical toll of the chaos. Among them is Jamie Corrie, a man who has lived on Lendrick Street in east Belfast for over a decade. His home, which he shared with his family for 13 years, was reduced to ash after a fire broke out in the early hours. Corrie described the scene as a moment of profound devastation, one he said will linger in his memory for life.

A House Lost in Flames

Speaking outside the charred remains of his property on Wednesday, Corrie said the fire spread rapidly, leaving little time for action. “By the time the firefighters arrived, my house was already engulfed in flames,” he recalled. The blaze began when a car belonging to “foreign nationals” next door was deliberately set alight, sparking a chain reaction that consumed his home. “I told them before they lit the car, ‘This is my property,’ but it didn’t matter. The fire came anyway.”

“Standing there and watching your house burn… that’s a feeling I’ll never get over,” Corrie said.

His words reflect the trauma of witnessing one’s home destroyed, especially after years of building a life there. The loss of personal belongings, including irreplaceable memories, has left him deeply affected. “There’s stuff in there that’s sentimental, can’t be replaced, that you’ll not get again,” he added.

A Family Forced to Flee

For Yura, a 19-year-old from a Ukrainian family, the night was equally harrowing. She described the events as “terrifying” and recounted how her neighbor’s house was the first to catch fire. “My front door was partially burned, and we had to kick it out to stop the flames from entering,” she said. The situation escalated when her dog was trapped inside the burning structure. “I was with my dog at the house, so I had to escape through the back door. We also tried to break into our neighbor’s home to rescue their pet.”

“I was lucky my friends live nearby, so they let me crash for the night,” Yura said.

The incident forced the family to abandon their home, leaving behind possessions and the sense of security they had built over years. For Corrie, the loss is compounded by the realization that the violence has shaken the very fabric of the community.

Community Impact and Fears of Displacement

Across Belfast, the flames have not only destroyed homes but also ignited fears of a larger exodus. Anselme Shima, another long-time resident of east Belfast, expressed his devastation at the sight of his home being consumed. “I didn’t know what I could do to protect my children,” he said. His home, located near the area where the violence erupted, became a symbol of the uncertainty that has gripped the city.

“This is heartbreaking. People are losing their homes, and it’s not just about property—it’s about trust in our community,” Shima added.

Healthcare professionals are also feeling the weight of the crisis. Biji Jose, a senior nurse from the Northern Ireland Indian Nurses Forum, has lived in the region for 23 years. She is worried that recent events may drive Indian community members to reconsider their roots. “My junior colleagues have been in touch, and they’re really worried about their safety,” she said. “They’re thinking about leaving because they feel vulnerable now.”

“People sometimes think we’re here to take their jobs, but no, it’s not the way,” Jose explained. “We’re filling workforce shortages and easing waiting lists for procedures. Our work keeps the community healthy, but now that trust is being tested.”

A Night of Terror and Uncertainty

The trauma of Tuesday’s violence was not limited to Belfast. In north Belfast, an Indian man who has called the area home for four years decided to leave Northern Ireland after the chaos. “We’re leaving right now,” he told BBC News NI. “It was like a war zone. Everything was burning, and people were so scared they wouldn’t even step outside.”

“I didn’t sleep all night. The noise, the smoke, the fear—it was overwhelming,” he said.

This man, who has lived in the UK for 25 years, described the night as a stark reminder of the fragility of peace. “People were hiding in their homes, and no one dared to venture out. It was as if the whole city had been set on edge.”

Support from the Local Community

Despite the turmoil, some residents have found solace in the solidarity of their neighbors. Ozer Soy-Suren, co-owner of a Turkish barber shop in Ballyclare, County Antrim, shared that his business was targeted during the disorder. “It’s deeply saddening to see our shop destroyed, but the community has been incredibly supportive,” he said. The shop, which has operated for 20 years, is now being cleaned up by staff who worked tirelessly to restore order.

“We knew the protest was going to happen, so we left a little early to get home and keep ourselves safe,” Soy-Suren added. “But even after the damage, people kept coming to check on us. That shows the strength of our local community.”

While the immediate aftermath has been chaotic, the resilience of Belfast’s residents is evident. Many are still coming to terms with the loss, but others are focused on rebuilding and ensuring the safety of those who remain.

A Call for Understanding and Resolution

Corrie, reflecting on the incident, questioned the purpose of the violence. “What does this resolve? What does this actually do?” he asked. “Burning cars, wrecking our own community, and now one of their own has just lost their home. It’s a cycle of destruction that leaves no one unscathed.”

His frustration mirrors the sentiments of many who have endured the night’s events. For families like his, the attack is not just a loss of property but a deep emotional wound. The city, once a place of stability, now feels like a battleground, with residents left to wonder how long the unrest will continue.

As the fires die down and the smoke clears, the stories of those who lost their homes and belongings will serve as a reminder of the human cost of the violence. For Jamie Corrie, Yura, Anselme Shima, and Biji Jose, the night of Tuesday is etched into their memories, a testament to the resilience and vulnerability of Belfast’s communities.