BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Cardi B offers to pay burial costs for Bronx fire victims

A person prays during the funeral service for victims from the apartment building which suffered the city’s deadliest fire in three decades, at the Islamic Cultural Center for the Bronx on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

(NewsNation Now) — Rapper and songwriter Cardi B, a Bronx native, has offered to pay the burial costs for the 17 people who died in New York City’s deadliest fire in three decades.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced in a news release Wednesday that Cardi B had offered financial relief for victims of the fire, which happened in a Bronx high-rise earlier this month.

“I’m extremely proud to be from the Bronx and I have lots of family and friends who live and work there still. So, when I heard about the fire and all of the victims, I knew I needed to do something to help,” Cardi B said in a statement. “I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish that the families of the victims are experiencing, but I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help as they move forward and heal. I send my prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this horrific tragedy.”

Adams said in a statement that he’s grateful for Cardi B’s offer.

“The city will be forever thankful to her and also to the grassroots donors and corporate partners who have been able to offer immediate support for our neighbors in need, to reestablish themselves during this difficult time,” Adams said.

Families of some of the victims planned to bury them in Gambia, a place to which many of the 17 people who died had ties.

Tijan Janneh, father of Sera Janneh, who died in the blaze, is one of those family members.

“It just was so difficult,” said the 27-year-old’s father. “But we have a good community, and the city, the Bronx, the whole America, the whole world right now — they all pray for us.”

Cardi B has said she will pay the repatriation expenses for victims buried in Gambia.

On Sunday, a funeral was held for 15 of the fire victims. Hundreds of mourners filled a Bronx mosque to pay respects and bid farewell to those who died, the Associated Press reported, and hundreds more were huddled outside. Burial services for two children had been held earlier in the week.

Multiple entities have been raising money for those affected by the fire, which was caused by a malfunctioning space heater inside an apartment.

The Bronx Fire Relief Fund has received thousands of grassroots donations, raising more than $2.5 million, according to the Mayor’s Office.

An investigation into the fire is ongoing.

Northeast

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Fair

la

59°F Fair Feels like 59°
Wind
5 mph WSW
Humidity
76%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
51°F Cloudy skies. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
4 mph N
Precip
9%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Crescent