FIFTEEN people, including six children, died before dawn Saturday after they were trapped in fire that engulfed a part of the Zamboanga City Public Market, police said.
Initial report released by the city government said 13 other people suffered severe burns when the fire occurred at 3:17 a.m. at the market on Magay Street near the city hall.
Zamboanga City fire marshal Superintendent Dominador Zabala Jr. said the fire razed 350 stalls, mostly used-clothing shops, and partially destroyed a three-story commercial building.
Estimated worth of property damaged was placed at P8 million.
Investigation showed the fire started when an electricity wire at a nearby electric post sparked and the spark fell onto a stall of used clothing.
“Apparently it was a spark in the [electrical] wiring,” Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said as to the origin of the fire.
Salazar said the other stalls that were razed were selling marine products and vegetables, admitting that some of the stalls were constructed illegally by the occupants.
She said the victims who were killed and injured were among the people staying in their stalls while some had just stayed overnight as they were scheduled to travel to Jolo, Sulu.
The names of the fatalities released by the local police and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) are the following: Kayulan Hasiddin, 48; Musal Hasiddin, 45; Radzhata Hasiddin, 28; Bunay Hasiddin, 1; Crissamae Hasiddin, 3; Noynoy Hasiddin, 5; Nurais Hasiddin, 9; Radzmer Hasiddin, 10; Ruhilyn Hamis, 26; Jasper Hamis, 1; Abei Salahuddin, 40; Nuru-in Salahuddin, 39; Algabid Salahuddin, 20; Marilyn Salahuddin, 32; and, Binnas Salahuddin, 20.
Those who suffered burns and taken to the hospitals are as follows: Alvin Bete, 14; Annang Erilis, 45; Nurmina Jamiri, 18; Yasser Jamiri, 29; Almudzra Hamis, 31; Midzfar Hamis, 7; Farhana Hamis, 9; Bennaser Hamis, 32; Abdurahman Hamis, 36; Nasriya Hamis, 5; Nasmiya Hamis, 9; Albini Jaani, 32 and, Alfredo Mana, 16.
Salazar said the injured victims would be transferred to the Mindanao Central Sanitarium in Barangay Pasobolong, this city, “so that they will be given better medical assistance.”
Salazar said she has instructed City Social Welfare and Development Officer Socorro Rojas to provide the necessary assistance to the victims.
Zabala said the fire was placed under control around 5:20 a.m. and was declared fire out at 7:50 a.m..