A heart-wrenching tribute has been made to the 21-year-old woman who died in a flat fire on Old Kent Road.
Sofia Duarte perished in a blaze above Nigerian restaurant Calabar Zone, by Dunton Road, at around 5pm on New Year Year’s Day.
On a GoFundMe page raising money for Sofia’s cremation her friend, Alda Simoes, wrote: “Our Sofia was the light in every room or party and no day was the same as another, as Sofia lived life to the fullest.
“For everyone that knew Sofia, knows that Sofia loved her family dearly and she had so many friends and so many stories to tell as she grown [sic] into the beautiful young lady that she was and always will be for anyone that loves her.”
According to the post, Sofia’s mother found out about her daughter’s death from a friend who’d seen a photo of Sofia attached to an RIP message.
Sofia was the only person who didn’t escape the burning building in time and was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
London Fire Brigade says the fire was likely caused by an electrical fault.
Sofia had reportedly been visiting her boyfriend when the blaze engulfed the building.
Friend Alda wrote: “This is so HEARTBREAKING and hard to swallow… Please, let’s all get together and all be that somebody.
“We will make sure you get the send off you deserve babygirl. You have gone too soon but you will never leave our hearts…”
The fundraiser for Sofia’s cremation has already surpassed its £3,000 target.
The fire saw police, firefighters and paramedics race to the scene and the area evacuated, with road closures put in place.
Buses had to be diverted between the Bricklayers Arms and New Cross. Old Kent Road was closed in both directions at the junction of Madron Street.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Old Kent Road, Dockhead and New Cross fire stations attended the scene. Part of the second floor flat was damaged by fire.