3 boys die in Sta. Mesa fire

A fire caused by a leaking liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank claimed the lives of three young boys early yesterday morning in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

Arson investigators of the Manila Fire Department identified the fatalities as brothers John Paul Gabon, 15; John Eric Gabon, 9; and John Dave Gabon, 4.

Investigators said the brothers were fast asleep in their shanty at 4763 Road 2 when the fire started in the kitchen at about 4:08 a.m.

Reports said the victims’ father, Pastor, 45; was cooking breakfast when the leaking LPG tank suddenly exploded.

The blaze soon spread from the small kitchen to adjacent houses, mostly built of light materials, burning down 30 shanties, probers said.

Pastor managed to escape from the burning shanty and was rushed to the nearby University of the East Ramon Magsaysay hospital for treatment of second-degree burns after trying to save his children.

Responding firemen extinguished the fire at 5:25 a.m. Damage caused by the blaze was placed at around P8 million.

Meanwhile, as firefighters fought to contain the Sta. Mesa blaze, some P10 million worth of merchandise also went up in smoke as another fire of still unknown origin, struck a shopping arcade in Manila’s Port Area.

Reports said the fire razed the Sinagtala Shopping Arcade located at the corner of 13th and Atlanta streets near Gate 4 of the Manila South Harbor.

According to reports, the fire started in the arcade’s storage room at about 5:23 a.m. where surplus television sets were kept.

The blaze soon spread to other parts of the arcade. No one was reported hurt. Responding firemen contained the blaze at 7:32 a.m.