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The remains of three people were found in the ruins of a two-story house after it was destroyed by a fire Saturday morning in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture.
Police said firefighters received a call from the house at about 1:30 a.m., reporting a fire. It took firefighters about 5 1/2 hours to extinguish the fire, NTV reported.
On the second floor, the remains of three people were found. Police said they were the 77-year-old father of the house's owner, Nakaji Koide, who was away on a business trip, Koide's 47-year-old wife and his 13-year-old son.
Koide's two daughters, one of whom called police, escaped the fire.
© Japan Today
5 Comments
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John Judkins
Very heartbreaking. Check your smoke alarms every month for low-battery. Every moment matters especially late at night when everyone is sleeping
HonestDictator
Very sad. At least 2 of his children survived, but what is their situation going to be from here on out? By the way this man was 77 years old with a 13 year old son? Just trying to make sure there were no typos.
Lunchbox
No, Nakaji Koide was a house owner ( he was away on business trip), he had a 13yr old son and two daughters. He lost his wife, father and son. Poor guy.
I've been to a house party in this same village (shuku), also a family called Koide, so must be relatives.
Waxman
Sad news for one family and their relatives....RIP all
nath
A couple of observations:
1) Nice mention, Mr. Judkins, about replacing batteries in smoke detectors. You're assuming, of course, that there was a smoke detector present. It's very likely that there wasn't. Considering Japan's long and stored history of disastrous fires, it's astonishing that smoke detectors are the exception, rather than the norm.
2) It took 5-1/2 hours to put out a house fire? What were they using, water pistols???