OTJIWARONGO: A family of Hermias Cornelius von Wielligh in Otjiwarongo escaped death on Monday night after their house caught fire while they were asleep.

Von Wielligh, 37, told Nampa in an interview on Tuesday morning that he and his wife and daughter were sleeping at the time the fire broke out.

He said his neighbors saw the fire coming from his house first, before him and his family woke up.

“It was at about 23H45 when the neighbors called the police to assist us, and we were still asleep that time,” said Von Wielligh.

He still does not know what caused it.

Von Wielligh said his wife earlier had told him that there was a cat which entered the house.

“When my wife woke up to check the cause of the noise, I saw flames of fire near our main bedroom door,” he said.

Von Wielligh and his wife then ran out to pass through the flames to the exit door.

“That’s how we escaped,” he narrated.

Von Wielligh’s house is situated in Son Road opposite Paresis Sports Complex in Otjiwarongo.

The Namibian Police (NamPol)’s Otjozondjupa Regional Deputy Commander, Deputy Commissioner Gerhard Uataurua Mavenjono confirmed the incident at Von Wielligh’s house on Tuesday morning.

There were no injuries recorded, and Mavenjono ruled out any foul play.