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ANTANANARIVO, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Thirty eight, including 16 children were killed in a house fire Saturday night in Ikalamavony, about 400 kilometers south of Madagascar's capital Antananarivo, the communication officer of national gendarmerie Commandant Herilalatiana Andrianarisaona said on Monday.
"38 died, including two were totally carbonized and 36 others were asphyxiated Saturday night when the fire broke at Ralaimija's house,"Andrianarisaona told Xinhua.
Seventeen of the victims were from one family of Mr. Ralaimija, including his mother, his wife, his seven children and other relatives, the commandant said.
"The fire occurred Saturday night after a family in the village of Ambatolava, in the district of Ikalamavony held a three-day house-warming celebration for their ancestral house from July 21 to July 23," the commandant explained.
"The victims slept at the floor of the house when a fire from the kitchen outside was blown by a heavy wind and reached the straw roof of the house," the commandant added.
Three survivors, including a 14-year boy, injured after they jumped directly from the window when the fire broke.
The house-warming celebration is an occasion for the family to gather and to make traditional festivities. Enditem
