CYPRUS - Two Filipinos reportedly perished in a fire inside their rented flat in Cyprus.

The victims were identified as Nardino "Nardy" Nuquid, 35, of Pampanga and Mary Rose Castanas-Saldiva, 39, and a native of Samar.

The incident happened on January 27 at the victims' flat along Prevesis Street in Nicosia.

A Nepalese, only identified as "Chris," recalled that he and his Filipino girlfriend were awaken by a commotion and smelled smoke coming from the room next door around 5 a.m.

When they went out, they saw Castanas-Saldiva's sister, Marisol, trying to open the door to the victims' room.

Chris added that when Marisol was able to open the door, her sister attempted to come near her but was pulled back into the room by Nuguid. Chris said he called up the fire department that arrived 10 minutes later. The victims were already dead.

Fire service spokesman Marios Kyprianou said investigators found in the scene a plastic container with petrol. They suspect that it was poured on the wooden floor, Kyprianou added.

Nicosia Criminal Investigation and Detection Chief Kypros Michaelides said the fire was not an accident but a criminal act.

Marisol was reportedly quoted by other media outlets in Cyprus as saying that the victims often quarreled in the past few days allegedly due to jealousy.

Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Cyprus is reportedly waiting for the official report from the Philippine Honorary Consul.

Welfare Officer Josephine Tobias assured that assistance will be given to the victims if they were OWWA members. Joy Miranda, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau