A young man (19) died in a house fire, while three others escaped, on early Sunday morning July 7, at Halaleva in Tongatapu. 

Police investigating the blaze said the three who escaped did not know that the victim, who was their friend, was sleeping inside the timber house.

Deputy Police Commissioner 'Unga Fa'aoa said the victim's body was severely damaged by the fire and beyond recognition.

The Fire Commander Sinamoni Kauvaka said this was the first death from a house fire in Tongatapu this year. The Fire Services received the call around 5:00am from a neighbour. The firemen realised that the unidentified victim was inside the house while trying to extinguish the blaze. The house was said to have been occupied by a son of the owner and other male friends.  It was understood that the victim had joined the three men for a meal around 1:00am.

A  total of 125 fires have been recorded this year, an increase from 84 in 2012.