A Japanese woman died in a fire at The Abercromby, a hotel on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, early yesterday morning.
She has been identified as 40-year-old Katsuka Yanagimoto, who had been living at the hotel for almost a year. James Thompson, the hotel's owner, said fire started at approximately 3.30 am on the ground floor.
He said the woman occupied a room on the ground floor and was unable to escape when the fire broke out. He could not confirm what she did for a living, but said she spent most of her time on the computer.
Thompson said there were 20 guests staying at the hotel. All of the guests and night staff, except Yanagimoto, made it to safety. He said the fire had completely gutted the hotel's interior and partially damaged it's exterior.
The fire also damaged the neighbouring Maria Regina Grade School.
A school official said the school's new multimedia room had been completely destroyed and damage had been done to the second floor classrooms.
In a release yesterday, the principal informed parents that the school would resume as usual for pupils of the prep school. The release stated that for pupils in Lower 1, Upper 1 and Grades 2, 3 and 4, classes had been suspended for the week. Grade 5 pupils would be accommodated at St Joseph's Convent, Port-of-Spain, with classes to be resumed on Thursday.
Fire officials said the cause of fire was still unknown and that investigations were under way.