2 Year Old Dies in Home Fire

What was supposed to be a surprise and happy trip turned tragic for a mother and her family when their two-year-old daughter died in a house fire on Monday.

Mother of four, Asena Naivalu, travelled from Suva to Seaqaqa yesterday to watch her eldest child becoming part of the student council. It was a bittersweet moment.

Ms Naivalu works in Suva while her husband and children stay with his parents in Vunikoka Settlement, Seaqaqa.

On the day of the incident, her younger children, a three-year-old and twoyear- old were left with a young couple.

Her husband had gone to pick up their third child who was in kindergarten.

However, the couple were said to have left for the hospital when the tragic incident happened.

From left: Asena Naivalu, daughter Hadassah Weleilakeba, her husband Neomi Naivalu, and son Paula Maisiri in Seaqaqa on February 27, 2024. Photo: Jone Salusalu

Mother responds 

Ms Naivalu recalled: “I got a call around 1pm, I just couldn’t collect myself.

“I had already booked my flight for my other daughter’s badging; I promised her that I would be here to witness her receive her badge.

“But it pains me now that I’m also here to the news of our baby girl’s loss. I’m hurt.

“As I stepped onto the school gate, my heart was so heavy. I saw my daughter, my husband, and my son who is in kindergarten all teary. They were looking at me.”

“Our baby girl was one of the most loveable and easy to get attached to, she was only two but she’s in a better place now.”

Police

Police spokesperson Wame Boutolu said a four-bedroom wooden house, the property of a retired army office was destroyed in a fire.

“The body of the deceased is at Labasa Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem. Cause of fire and cost of damage are yet to be ascertained,” he said.

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