Tsinoy couple killed, 2 children hurt in fire

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino-Chinese couple died of suffocation when they were trapped in a burning six-story residential-commercial building in Tondo, Manila Thursday night.

Johnny Chua, 48; his wife, Janette Lim, 47; and their children, Jasper, 11, and Justin, 9, were unconscious by the time firefighters rescued them from their rented unit at the top floor of the Bailwick Marketing building, according to arson investigator Fire Officer 2 Lords Hernandez.

The Chua family reportedly failed to get out of their unit as thick smoke enveloped the top floor where the fire started, Hernandez added.

The victims were rushed to different hospitals. Johnny and Janette died of smoke inhalation at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital and Mary Johnston Hospital, respectively. Their children survived and are now under observation at the Metropolitan Hospital.

Hernandez said the fire started at around 11 p.m. at the top floor of the building, where the Chuas’ garments business was located.

The fire was put out at around 2 a.m. after reaching the second alarm. Only the top floor was destroyed.

Policemen, led by Jose Abad Santos police station chief Superintendent Remigio Sedanto, assisted in the evacuation of residents from the burning building.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.