Hokkaido, Yamaguchi fires kill three

SAPPORO (Kyodo) Two people were killed and one injured when a house burned down in Muroran, Hokkaido, early Sunday, police said.

The two deceased are believed to be Hideo Numata, 68, and his wife, Tomoko, 70. The injured man is believed to be their 37-year-old son Hitoshi, the police said.

The fire, which was reported by a neighbor, broke out at the Numata residence shortly before 4 a.m., the police said.

Meanwhile, in Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, a woman was killed during a separate fire at the home of Minoru Yanagi, 86.

The woman is believed to be Yanagi's wife, Chieko, 83, local police said. Yanagi was also injured in the fire.