2 cousins die in Mandaluyong fire

Two youngsters were killed and their two elders were injured in a fire triggered by a flare gun in a two-story house in Mandaluyong City Thursday night.

Arson prober SFO3 Avelino Caya said Angelo del Barrio, 12, and his cousin, Liza del Barrio, 20, died of suffocation in their room in their house at 88-02 corner San Rafael and Martinez Streets, Barangay Plainview.

Injured were Angelo’s mother, Beth, 48, and her older sister, Gloria 50, who sustained second and first degree burns, respectively.

Caya said the fire started in the room of the youngsters at the second floor at around 11:06 p.m. Thursday. Neighbors theorized that Liza fell asleep, leaving Angelo awake.

The boy could not sleep, they said, and he took a flare gun from a cabinet and pulled the trigger not knowing that it was loaded.

Caya said the fire quickly spread in the room due to stored combustible materials.

Witnesses said thick smoke enveloped the room apparently making it hard for the cousins to see their way out. The room glass windows were also tightly shut.

The elder victims tried to save the youngsters but backed out after the fire singed them. They were rushed to the Mandaluyong City Medical Center for treatment.

Caya placed damage to property at P100,000.

Witnesses told Caya that before the fire, Angelo was often seen playing with the flare gun.