A woman believed to be the last surviving person born in the 19th century has died at the reported age of 124.
Francisca Susano, affectionately known as Lola Iska, died on Monday night at her home in the city of Kabankalan, the Philippines.
Local government officials say she was the oldest person in the the world, surpassing the previous record holder by two years.
It is thought Guinness World Records were examining documents as recently as September, but she died before they could independently verify her age.
Local records claim Francisca Susano was born on September 11, 1897, one year before Spain relinquished its reign over the Philippines and sold it to the USA.
It was also the year the ice cream scoop was invented and when Marconi sent the first ever radio transmission across the sea.
The secret to Lola’s long life was believed to be a diet consisting mainly of vegetables, with little meat and no pork.
She also said drinking no alcohol also played a big role in reaching such a ripe old age, the Sun reports.
Jake Carlyne Gonzales, public information officer for Kabankalan, said the cause of Lola’s death is yet to be determined.
He told CNN Philippines she would be tested for Covid-19 but that she was not thought to have suffered any symptoms of the virus.
In a statement on Facebook, the City Government of Kabankalan said:
‘It is with sadness in our heart when we received the news that our beloved Lola Francisca Susano passed away early this Monday evening November 22.
‘Lola Iska is considered the oldest person in Negros Occidental and the Philippines.