Mother, 2 children die in blaze after power outage

Three family members, including two children, perished in a fire which struck a squatters’ area along the railroad tracks in Sampaloc, Manila shortly before midnight Friday.

The charred remains of the victims were identified by the family patriarch. Vicente Sayson, as that of his wife Arlene, 34; and their children Melrose, 6; and Arnel, 4.

Firemen recovered the burnt bodies of the victims among the ruins of the razed three-story house at 1708 Mindanao Extension, Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, where the fire reportedly started.

According to arson investigator SFO2 Joven Sagala, the fire which started at about 11:25 p.m. was caused by the sudden surge of electricity following the massive power outage due to the devastation of typhoon "Seniang" in the metropolis.

"Residents saw a spark in one of the house’s electrical connections at the second floor when power was restored. Soon the house was engulfed with fire and smoke," Sagala said.

In his haste to leave the burning house, Vicente said he forgot to rouse his wife and two children who were sleeping on the third floor, where they were trapped as the entire second floor went up in flames.

Residents said the house was owned by Arlene’s 74-year-old mother, Anunsacion Ligbos, who constructed the third floor for her daughter’s family.

The Sampaloc tragedy happened just several hours after the entire metropolis reeled under the devastating effect of Typhoon Seniang. – Nestor Etolle