AN early morning fire yesterday at the Abercromby Hotel, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, has claimed the life of a Japanese national.

Fire officials report that Katfuko Yana-Gimoro, approximately 40 years of age, died in the blaze which began around 3 a.m. She was a guest at the hotel. There were no reports of any other injuries and all other 17 guests at the 31-room hotel were accounted for, police said.

Fire officers from the Belmont Fire Station were the first on the scene followed by Wrightson Road and Woodbrook fire stations. Police officers were also present.

The fire began at the top floor and quickly spread to the lower floor of the mostly wooden building, fire officials said.

An estimated value of the loss was put at $2.5 million. Yesterday the outside shell of the building itself remained intact, though it was blackened with soot, mostly in the upper areas.

Carl Assing, a 46-year-old electrician residing in an apartment near to the hotel, said he began smelling smoke around 2.30 a.m. and when he opened his front door he was greeted by a cloud of smoke. He yelled ’fire’ and alerted his neighbours.

’It was out of control. It was frightening,’ he said.

Assing praised the fire officers who combatted the blaze, noting that if not for their efforts all of their properties would be gone. Fellow resident Laila Patrick also praised the fire officers’ rapid response, noting that they were already on the scene around 3 a.m. when she awoke. Fire officers are continuing investigations.

Classes at the Maria Regina Grade School, located on the left side of the hotel, were also disrupted due to the fire and there was reported damage to the computer room and equipment.