Xinhua
March 13, 2013 - 12:00am
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-03/13/c_132231332.htm


A seven-year Palestinian girl died on Wednesday succumbing to her injuries sustained in a house fire in southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, medical sources said.

The fire, sparked by a gas lamp, also left her brother dead and wounded three other children of one family.

Hamas' Interior Ministry said it has opened an investigation into the incident, which took place as electricity was off in the area.

Gaza suffers from electricity shortage due to Israeli restrictions, Egyptian crackdown on fuel smuggling along with inter-Palestinian disputes have affected the only power station in Gaza.

As a result, the coastal enclave suffers blackouts from eight to 12 hours per day.

In January, a house fire in Gaza city, blamed on candle, killed six members of one family and sparked public rage in the besieged enclave.




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