Elderly woman dies in a night house fire in Nyeri
Residents at the scene of the house fire that took the life of a 100-year-old woman. PHOTO | JOSEPH WANGUI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
- The woman was immobile and was alone when the fire broke out.
- Firefighters from the Nyeri fire department put out the fire.
A cloud of grief has engulfed Rureraini village in Mweiga, Nyeri County, after a 100-year-old woman perished in a house fire on Thursday night.
Esther Wanja Wamburi was alone in her wooden house when the blaze broke out at 8pm.
The cause of fire, which reduced the house to ashes, has not been established, said her son George Wachira.
Mr Wachira said his mother's lamp had already been snuffed.
“We are still puzzled because the house is not connected to electricity and nothing was burning inside.
"We just saw huge flames of fire and within a minute the fire had spread and covered the whole house.
"We were unable to put it off. It is sad that she was burnt alive and the incident is still mysterious,” said Mr Wachira.
The inferno was put out by firefighters from the Nyeri fire department.
Mr Wachira said efforts to save his mother were thwarted by the fast-spreading fire.
“She was immobile and I used to carry her from her house to my house so that we can have evening meals together. My two sons used to sleep in her house [to give her] company and take care of her,” added Mr Wachira.
Ms Wamburi's charred remains were moved to the Mathari Mission Hospital mortuary.
