Malabon fire kills elderly couple

A bedridden polio victim and his wife, both 70, died at the height of a two-hour fire in a poor neighborhood yesterday in Potrero, Malabon.

The victims were identified by authorities as Larry Chua and his wife, Concepcion, of Orange Road, a dead-end street in Barangay Potrero, Malabon. Both were charred beyond recognition, rescuers said.

There were no confirmed reports of other casualties or injured in the fire.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Reyes, Malabon fire marshal, said the fire broke out from a house on 69 Orange Road owned by a certain Celso Ocampo at around 2:40 p.m.

Firefighters put the blaze out at around 4:42 p.m.

The fire left at least 25 families homeless.

Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire as well as the damage to property.

An initial investigation by fire officials found that Larry Chua was allegedly trying to save his wife, who was choking in smoke on the bedroom floor at the height of the fire.

They were apparently killed instantly when the burning roof collapsed on them, authorities said.