Siaya: 78-Year-Old Woman Burnt Beyond Recognition in House Fire Incident
- Kakan village in Olwa sub-location was plunged into mourning following the tragic death of a 78-year-old woman
- The elderly woman, whom the police identified as Lea Anyango Aluoch, was burned beyond recognition following a fire incident at her house
- Area assistant chief Joshua Ombago Odhoji told TUKO.co.ke that preliminary observations suggest the fire might have been caused by a tin lamp
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Siaya: A 78-year-old woman has tragically lost her life after a fire broke out on the morning of Monday, 12, at her home in Kakan village, Olwa sub-location, within Alego Usonga Constituency.
Source: Original
What caused fire that killed the elderly woman?
The woman, identified as Lea Anyango Aluoch, was burned beyond recognition after her house was consumed by flames believed to have started from a lamp.
According to the area assistant chief, Joshua Ombago Odhoji, the incident occurred at around 6am.
Odhoji said he received a phone call from a concerned resident who informed him that smoke was seen coming from the elderly woman’s house.
“I received a call from one of the villagers early in the morning saying there was a fire at Mama Lea’s house. We rushed there with police officers, but by the time we arrived, community members had already tried to intervene,” the administrator said.
Neighbours attempted to break through windows and force open the door, but their efforts came too late.
“Unfortunately, despite their quick response, the flames had already engulfed the house. By the time they managed to get inside, she had already perished,” the chief noted.
He stated that preliminary observations at the scene suggest the fire may have been caused by a tin lamp, which was discovered next to the remains of the burnt bed where the woman was found.
“It’s likely the lamp fell over during the night and ignited the bedding,” he told TUKO.co.ke.
The incident has left the local community in shock, as the woman was well-known and respected in the area.
Source: Original
Her body was taken to the Siaya County Referral Hospital mortuary as police begin a full investigation to determine the actual cause.
Chief Ombago urged residents, especially the elderly who live alone, to take extra precautions with open flames.
He also urged families to regularly check on vulnerable relatives.
9 Siaya family members killed in arson attack buried
TUKO.co.ke previously reported the emotional burial of nine family members killed in an arson attack.
Caskets of the nine, small and large, lined up at Ninga Comprehensive School where the funeral mass was held.
The family members of Richard Ouma Opondo and Jacinta Anyango were killed on the night of Tuesday, April 22, in an incident that left the nation shocked.
Only two Opondo family members survived the horrific incident, among them the eldest son who is a student at a Nairobi college. The other family member who survived the heinous attack wasat the time of the incident visiting her maternal grandmother.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Florence Owiti (freelance editor) Florence Owiti is a bold print journalist who covers current affairs topics including politics, climate change, courts and crime, devolution and governance. She has reported for TUKO.co.ke from mid-2022 from Homa Bay and neighbouring counties. She possesses a diploma in journalism and media pursued at Kenya Coast National Polytechnic. You can reach her at flowiti0098@gmail.com.
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: Joshua.cheloti@tuko.co.ke
