Left to Buy Food with Boyfriend, Woman Returns to Find House in Flames and 3 of Her Children Dead

A devastating fire broke out at a home in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Tuesday afternoon, 6 May 2025, killing three young siblings and critically injuring another.

The children, aged between one and four years old, were reportedly left alone at home while their mother went out to buy food for them with her boyfriend.

Children Were Left Unattended Inside the House

The fire occurred at around 2:00 pm local time at a house on Jalan R. Suprapto, in Kelurahan Punggolaka, Puuwatu District.

According to Kompas, the four children had been left alone inside the house when the blaze broke out.

Their mother, a 23-year-old woman, had reportedly gone out to get food with her boyfriend, leaving her children without adult supervision.

Victims’ mother. Photo courtesy of Tribun Sumsel on YouTube

Police confirmed that no other adults were in the house at the time.

The children’s grandfather, 51, the owner of the house, was working and only learned about the incident while returning home.

Trapped Inside the Burning House

Two of the children, AZP (1) and ANP (3), died at the scene. ANP’s twin sibling, identified as N (3), was rushed to the hospital but later succumbed to severe burn injuries on Wednesday, 7 May, around 4:30 pm.

The eldest of the four siblings, S (4), survived but remains in intensive care with serious injuries.

According to reports, police are investigating the incident for possible negligence, especially as the children were left alone for hours.

Preliminary findings from the Kendari Fire and Rescue Department revealed that two fire trucks, one rescue unit, and one ambulance were then deployed to the scene to extinguish the fire.

However, flames had already engulfed much of the structure by the time firefighters arrived.

Found Embracing Inside a Closet

The tragedy took an even more heartbreaking turn when the children’s bodies were recovered. According to reports, the two children who died at the scene were found locked in an embrace inside a closet.

Parents Grieve at Their Children’s Burial

The bodies of AZP and ANP were buried together on Wednesday morning (7 May) at the Punggolaka public cemetery. N, who passed away later in the hospital, was laid to rest later that night.

Grief overwhelmed the funeral as loved ones gathered to say goodbye.

The children’s parents, who were reportedly divorced, were both overcome with emotion. The mother sobbed uncontrollably by the grave, while the father was visibly shaken and cried.

Nine People Living in the House

According to Prohaba.co, nine people lived in the house, including the children’s grandfather, their mother, and several relatives.

However, at the time of the fire, only the four young siblings were inside.

The couple’s oldest child, aged six, survived the tragedy as he had followed his grandfather to work that morning.

Investigation Ongoing, Cause Undetermined

Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The Kendari Fire Department stated via its official Instagram account that the investigation is ongoing, and no conclusive cause has been identified so far.

Featured images courtesy of Kompas and screengrabs of YouTube Video

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