Four people were found dead in the rubble of a house that burned down Tuesday morning in Hanamigawa Ward in the city of Chiba, police and firefighters said.
The fire broke out around 4:15 a.m. and was put out about 3½ hours later. The four, who are believed to be among seven people who were living in the wooden house, were pronounced dead soon afterward, the police and firefighters said.
The police believe the four are Yukari Totani, 45, her father, Yutaka, 72, her mother, Yoko, 64, and her 16-year-old daughter, Mai.
Totani's husband, Minoru, 54, and the couple's elder son and younger daughter escaped safely.