Elderly woman dies in house fire

An 85-year-old woman, Eleni Kountourou from Kivides village in Limassol died from third degree burns after a fire broke out in her house late on Monday.

The fire which was accidental reportedly started after pieces of lit paper fell on a quilt the elderly woman was using.

The blaze was reportedly caused by the religious smoke jar traditionally used in Orthodox Christian houses. The woman’s 60-year-old daughter used the jar to ‘smoke’ her mother, but placed pieces of paper inside the jar instead of charcoal and olive leaves as is usually done. In the process, however, some of the lit pieces of paper fell on the 85-year-old’s feet, and on to the quilt that covered her.

The 60-year-old left her mother in the bedroom and went to the kitchen, oblivious to the fact that her mother’s quilt was on fire and that the bed-ridden old lady was also burning in her sleep. When she finally noticed it, the 60-year-old tried to put out the fire with water, and was herself seriously burned. Finally, the fire was put out by the 85-year-old’s 49-year-old son.

Both women were taken to Limassol General Hospital, where it was confirmed that 60-year-old Harikleia Kountourou sustained first and second degree burns to the face and arms and was kept for treatment, while her mother was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit at Nicosia General Hospital. The elderly woman died in hospital. The Fire Service yesterday confirmed that the fire had started from the quilt.

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