PNG Fire Tragedy Claims Six Lives in Port Moresby
Six people, including three children, have died in a devastating fire early this morning on Kingfisher Street, between Gordons and Erima in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Residents say they awoke around 2am to screams and thick smoke as flames quickly consumed a rental property owned by a man from Hela Province. Neighbours attempted to help, but the fire spread rapidly, destroying the house within minutes.
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| PNG Fire Tragedy Claims Six Lives in Port Moresby [Photo supplied] |
PNG Fire Service NCD Chief Superintendent Saina Luwai confirmed that a family of six — three children and three adults — perished after being trapped inside the bottom unit of the building.
“We found the three children with their aunty and grandmother in one room and the father in another,” Luwai said. “The windows were barred so it was difficult for them to escape.”
Fire crews received a call at 2:56am, but by the time they arrived the structure was engulfed. Tenants from the top unit escaped by breaking a bathroom window and jumping out.
One survivor told firefighters he heard the trapped children and grandmother crying for help before the flames overtook the room.
The blaze also damaged two neighbouring properties, one belonging to Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa.
Search and recovery of the bodies was described as emotionally challenging, and investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
“This is a heartbreaking loss for the community, and we are working to find out how it happened,” Luwai said.
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