Report: Malaysian mother and infant daughter killed in Toronto blaze
KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — A 38-year-old Malaysian mother and her three-year old daughter were killed in a fire that destroyed their family house in Toronto, Canada.
Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that the deceased mother was identified as Melissa Archana John, who died at during the fire in their home in Brampton, Toronto, on June 2.
Her three-year-old daughter, Aria Jeanne Phoenix, died a day later to the injuries sustained from the fire.
However, Melissa’s husband, Omar Watson, was reported to be seriously injured and is in a medically induced coma.
According to Melissa’s cousin, Philip Subash, the deceased’s parents, Eappen K. John and Daisy Mathews, are in the midst of obtaining their visas before flying off to Canada as soon as possible.
He said although the incident happened last Friday, Melissa’s parents found out only four days later after not hearing from her for a few days.
"They contacted Watson’s sister, who conveyed the tragic news,” he told FMT.
Philip said both Aria and Watson were alive when they were rescued by the fire marshals on that fateful day.
"Aria did not make it the next day. Omar (Watson) is still in a coma at the hospital,” he said, adding that the cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Philip said funeral arrangements will be made only after the Canadian authorities identify Melissa’s remains.
Last week, it was reported that Canada is fighting against hundreds of blazes that have swept through the country in its worst-ever start to wildfire season.
Larger and more powerful wildfires than ever have scorched millions of hectares of Canadian forests and displaced tens of thousands of residents.
However, it cannot be determined if Melissa and her daughter’s death were from the wildfires.
