Sick woman dies in Mandaue fire

A sickly 86-year-old woman died after fire engulfed her room inside a rented house in barangay Cubacub, Mandaue City early morning yesterday.

Emiliana Limbaga Dadan died on the spot from third degree burns over her body and head. She was reportedly sick and asleep when the fire, of yet undetermined cause, struck her room.

Fire investigators' initial report said that Emiliana's room was beside the kitchen of the house, which was rented by her daughter Bernardita from owner Alfredo Bihag.

A motorcycle-for-hire driver, who happened to pass by, saw the burning room at about 4:45am prompting him to awaken and alarm Bernardita.

Senior Fire Officer-1 Roy Garcia said that when he and the other firefighters arrived at the place, the fire was already put off by the victim's relatives and neighbors.

Mandaue City fire marshal Oscar Mayol has ordered fire investigators to determine the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, a fire also broke out at sitio Ukla Hi, barangay Labangon in Cebu City yesterday afternoon. razing at least 40 houses made of light materials.

Some 40 houses were razed by the afternoon fire but no one was reported injured. The fire also hit a small portion of the neighboring sitio Lutaw-lutaw.

The city fire department, which received the alarm at 4:48 p.m., was able to control the fire 15 minutes after firefighters reached the scene.

Authorities had estimated the damage at P400,000, and fire investigator Frank Dunoso said they still have to determine the cause of the fire that was initially found to have started at the house of a certain Victor Tabuada.