An Ethiopian woman who died in a ferocious house fire in Auckland yesterday morning was alive when the blaze took hold, police say.
Meme Woldeyesus, a mother of three, was found dead in a rear bedroom of the house on Saxon St, Waterview, after firefighters extinguished the flames shortly after 10.30am.
Police and fire investigators remained at the house today and would probably continue their scene examination tomorrow.
A post-mortem examination was carried out today but police could not comment on the cause of death as it was a matter for the coroner to determine, a spokeswoman said.
Police could confirm, however, that she was alive when the fire took hold.