Updated 1.25pm

A 69-year-old woman, Anna Spiteri, died in a fire at her residence in St Julian’s on Sunday.

The woman, a widow, had been living alone since her husband Tony died some 10 years ago.

Police said they were informed of the fire, in Wesgħa Agostino Savelli, at 5am.

A neighbour said Spiteri was a very good woman whom he had known since moving to his house in the 1980s.

He said that at around 5am he heard the voice of a man shouting and knocking on his door alerting him that the house next door was on fire. His son contacted the Civil Protection Department.

District police and members of the Special Intervention Unit, together with members of the Civil Protection Department, went on site and embarked on a fire fighting and rescue operation.

Once the fires were put under control, the woman was found dead.

The neighbour had to be treated for smoke inhalation. 

The case of the blaze is not yet known. 

An inquiry is being held.

The police are investigating.