Cardi B Pledges To Pay Funeral Expenses For 17 Bronx Fire Victims: 'I Needed To Do Something To Help'

Bronx native Cardi B has promised to pay the funeral costs for those who lost their lives in a deadly fire that broke out in a Bronx apartment building. The rapper said in a statement to CNN, "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." She added, "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."

The fire is New York City's deadliest fire in three decades, according to the Associated Press, and is believed to have been caused by a faulty electrical heater. Seventeen people lost their lives after the fire ripped through their Bronx apartment building. The state of New York announced that it would be granting $2 million to a fund for the victims and Cardi B partnered up with The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City to make sure that the families of all the victims would be included in her donation and "that the final wishes for their loved ones were met." "We are grateful for Cardi B, a real superstar on and off the mic, for granting some critical financial relief to families of the victims," Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. "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."

Some victims will be buried in the Gambia, a country in West Africa, according to PEOPLE. The victims of the fire include four members of the Drammeh family—Fatoumata Drammeh, 50; Foutmala Drammeh, 21; Muhammed Drammeh, 12; and Nyumaaisha Drammeh, 19. Others included Sera Janneh, 27; Seydou Toure, 12; Haouwa Mahamadou, 5; Haji Dukary, 49; Haja Dukureh, 37; Mustapha Dukureh, 12; Mariam Dukureh, 11; Fatoumata Dukureh, 5; Omar Jambang, 6; Fatoumata Tunkara, 43; Isatou Jabbie, 31; Hagi Jawara, 47 and two-year-old Ousmane Konteh. “This is a very close-knit community. We are predominantly from one town in the Gambia called Alunghare, so we are all family,” said Haji Dukureh, the uncle of Haja Dukureh, as per AP. “Most of the people here, we are all related in one way or the other.”

The American Red Cross is also accepting donations to help victims of the fire. You can make a donation here.