Boarding house burns: Bacolod blaze leaves 16 dead

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines  — Sixteen people, including eight children, died in a two-hour fire that gutted houses in a half a hectare thickly populated area in Barangay 19 at dawn yesterday.

In Cebu, two people also died in separate fire incidents.

Sr. Supt. Celestino Guara, Bacolod City police chief, yesterday said the fire, which was reportedly triggered by an unattended candle, razed 58 houses made of light materials, and damaged three others. It also left 1,000 people homeless.

Guara said the bodies of the victims, which have been retrieved at the fire scene, were already beyond recognition but were later identified by their respective family members, relatives and neighbors, who survived the incident based on the locations of their rooms.

He added that majority of the fatalities are members of five families, who were trapped inside the second floor of an old boarding house owned by Morita Depakakibo. 

The fire reportedly started in one of the comfort rooms of that boarding house.

Those killed were spouses Joselito and Anavic Celis and their three children — Carl Joshua, 3; Ada Pauline, 6; and Analyn, 8; Jeniffer, Jonaline and Joshua, all surnamed Demandar; brothers Novie, 3 and Bejie, 2, both surnamed Chavez; Mora, Kring-Kring, Rosemarie and Nonoy Niño, and Eduarda, 70 and Napoleon Abejero, 40.

The fire, which broke out at 1:19 a.m. yesterday, was completely contained only at 4:08 a.m. by responding firefighters of the Bureau of Fire and Protection as well as volunteers of the Amity and Chamber Fire Brigades.

Guara said BFP personnel and fire volunteers had difficulty putting out the fire, because of the narrow entrance to the residential area.

The affected families are now temporarily staying at the evacuation centers. Initial assistance have been provided by the health and social welfare personnel of the Bacolod City government, said Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

BFP investigators have yet to determine the extent of damage brought about by the fire.

Condolences

President Gloria Arroyo condoled with the families of those who died in the fire.

Deputy spokesperson and Press Undersecretary Anthony Golez, a native of Bacolod, described the tragedy as “the worst in the city.”

“The President is extending her deepest sympathies and condolences to the families who died in the fire in Bacolod City,” Golez told a news briefing at the Palace.

He said the President has ordered the Bacolod City Disaster Coordinating Council to immediately assist the victims.

Golez flew to Bacolod City yesterday afternoon to help in the recovery efforts.

One Dead In Cebu Fire

A 62-year-old woman was charred to death in a fire that gutted down three houses late afternoon yesterday in barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

The fatality was identified as Anecita Sanchez.

The fire broke out at 5:49 p.m. and was controlled 14 minutes later. The damage was pegged at P200,000.

Radio reports said Sanchez, who was paralyzed and was sitting on a wheelchair, was alone in the two-storey house, made of both wood and concrete, when the fire broke out.

Residents were no longer able to rescue her.

Sanchez’ children and grandchildren, who lived with her, were allegedly attending to a store owned by the family some 10 meters away when the fire broke out and were also no longer able to rescue her.

Radio reports said the fire started from the house of Renante “Titing” Radan.

Fire investigators are still determining the cause of the fire.

Barangay Lahug captain Mary Ann de los Santos said that they will extend financial assistance to the family opf the fatality and the other victims.

The fire victims are temporarily housed at the barangay hall.

The lot where the burned houses were located, according to de los Santos, is part of the lot owned by the provincial government.

Another Death In Fire

A three-year-old girl was killed after a fire hit their house in Don Andres Soriano (DAS), Toledo City last Sunday evening.

The fatality was identified as Mariel Manubag.

 According to the Toledo City police, the child was asleep when the fire happened. They believe that it could have started from the altar of their home where a lighted candle was left.

Sr. Insp. Randy Mendaros of the Toledo Fire Department said over radio station dySS that the victim was left to the care of her grandmother Alejandra Unabia.

Unabia reportedly went to a neighbor’s house to attend a novena leaving the child alone.

Estimated damage in the fire is P 30 thousand.

Periodic Inspection

Cebu City Fire Marshal Esmael Codilla said that they are conducting regular inspection of boarding houses to check if they comply with the laws.

 Codilla said that nine teams are deployed around the city to check on compliance of the Fire Code.

He said that they have noted lapses by many boarding houses here and have called the attention of the owners about such.

Codilla said that if a boarding house does not heed even after being subjected for correction, it will be recommended for closure. They have recommended one this year, but the owner eventually complied with the requirements, he said. — With Niña Sumacot, Gabriel C. Bonjoc and Philippine Star News Service/NLQ (FREEMAN NEWS)