2 persons perish as fire razes Sampaloc market

Two persons, including a five year-old girl, died after a fire struck a cooperative market in Sampaloc, Manila early morning yesterday.

Reports reaching the Manila Fire Department identified the fatalities as Melanie Obuyes, 42; and her five-year old daughter, Maria Victoria, who celebrated her birthday yesterday.

According to Manila fire chief Fennimore Jaudian, the victims along with the family’s 44-year old patriarch Buenaventura Obuyes, a vendor, and their two other children Mark Joseph, 9, and Mary Ann, 14; were asleep at their rented house at the second floor of the market located at the corner of Basilio and Dapitan streets, when the fire struck.

The fire soon crept to victims’ wooden house at the market’s second floor. Jaudian said the couple rushed out of the burning house but later run back to save their children when they were trapped by the burning debris.

Jaudian said two of the couple’s other children Mary Ann, and Mark Joseph; escaped before the fire gutted their house. Mary Ann was unhurt while Mark Joseph suffered second degree burns and is now confined at the Santo Tomas University Hospital.

Firefighters said the fire started at about 2:58 a.m. and was completely extinguished at about 4:55 a.m.

As of presstime, Jaudian said firefighters are still scouring the fire area for Buenaventura, who is now feared dead.

According to Jaudian, the fire could have been caused by faulty electrical wiring as witnesses said they heard a loud explosion shortly before the fire started. However, Jaudian added that the fire could have also been deliberately set.

Jaudian said that a certain Eileen Ortiz, a member of the cooperative was earlier ejected by other members of the cooperative from her rented house following a court case. According to Jaudian, Ortiz was not around when the fire started. – Mike Frialde