Filipino woman dies after suffering burns while lighting gas stove at Banani residence

A Filipino woman who suffered burn injuries while lighting a gas stove at her residence in Dhaka’s Banani has died while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.

Kristine Ver Bunag, 32, died at the institute’s intensive care unit (ICU) around 3:30am today (2 November).

Dr Sultan Mahmud Sikder, a resident surgeon at the institute’s emergency department, said the woman was referred to the hospital from Continental Hospital on 28 October.

According to the information provided, she had suffered burns while attempting to light a gas stove at her residence in Banani at around 7am that day. 

Approximately 63% of her body had been burnt, the doctor said, adding that her respiratory tract had also been damaged.

Dr Sultan said her condition had been critical since admission. 

According to her acquaintances, Kristine Ver Bunag arrived in Bangladesh on 15 October and began staying at a flat in Banani on 28 October.

That morning, she was attempting to light a cylinder gas stove to cook when it suddenly caught fire, leaving her severely burnt.

She was initially taken to Gulshan’s Continental Hospital for treatment before being transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for advanced medical care.