Siblings die in fire

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By LULU MARK
A FOUR-year-old girl and her two year-old brother died when their family home at Taurama in Port Moresby was razed on Friday night.
Lucy Agobe, on behalf of the family, told The National on Sunday that the fire started at around 7.30pm, and within 15 minutes engulfed the whole house.
The house, just outside the Taurama military barracks, was the home of the seven-member family originally from Tari, Hela.
Agobe said the children’s mother had gone to the road 15 to 20 minutes earlier.
On her way back, neighbours alerted her that the house was on fire.
“When she arrived, the house was covered in flames,” Agobe said.
“There was no water.
“The place was very dry.
“The wind was blowing strongly (making) it difficult to stop the fire.
“Within 15 minutes, the house was gone.
“We couldn’t do anything but watch.”
They found the remains of the siblings in a corner.
“We gathered the remains which the St John Ambulance took to the Port Moresby General Hospital morgue.”
Agobe said firefighters arrived late.
“The mother did not light a candle and we do not have electricity or gas,” she said.
“But we have a kerosene stove which was leaking.
“We will wait for (authorities) to find out the cause of the fire.”
PNG Fire Service officer Supt Luke Munguas said when fire truck arrived, the home was gone.
“We were notified by the St John Ambulance of the incident,” he said.
Taurama Barracks commanding officer Lt Col Heta Nombe said he could not comment as the tragic event happened outside the barracks.