A fire that engulfed a residential area in Quiapo, Manila on Wednesday evening killed at least six people, which included five children and one adult.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection Manila Arson Chief Senior Inspector Reden Alumno, the fire reached the fifth alarm as it spread quickly because most of the houses along Arlegui Street were made of light materials.
“The fire came from the back area. Then it quickly spread that’s why it affected all units,” said Nadjera Guiling, a resident.
Asliya Dacu was emotional because her three children, namely nine-year-old Jamalia, eight-year-old Jamila, and two-year-old Jamaica were missing. Bill Casas
Dacu also could not find her niece Babylove Sampaco, 10, and nephew Gerald, nine years old.
“ I was at work as a sales lady,” said Dacu.
The charred bodies of four children were found after the fire was put out.
Another victim who died was a man only known as “Michael”. The man entered the house to save the children trapped in the fire.
At around 3 a.m. on Thursday, officials found the sixth fatality, a child.
Alumno said one of the possible causes of the fire is an electrical short circuit.
“It’s possible, that’s possibility number one (due to fire). We are not ruling out arson but there are hearsays there were three people who went there,” he said.
“One possibility is electrical. We saw wire that got burned. From there, you could see it around the back area,” he added.
The fatalities will be brought to the Golden Mosque and buried according to the Islamic tradition.