Razed school a 'firetrap,' says principal

MANILA, Philippines - At least 10 houses and the whole third floor of a three-story public elementary school, which the principal said was a firetrap, were razed by a fire in Caloocan City yesterday.

City fire marshal Superintendent Oscar de Asis said the fire was traced to an “electric overload” in the house of Eduardo Agapito, which is beside the fence of the Gomburza Elementary School. He said the fire started at around 9:30 a.m. and was put out at around 11:49 a.m.

The third floor of the school – which housed six e-classrooms provided with computers, the library and desks and tables – was gutted by the fire, said principal Jocelyn Navarro.

Navarro also admitted to The STAR that the school, which has a population of 1,900 students, is a firetrap – the school has only one entrance and exit, making the fire “an accident waiting to happen.”

School officials said the students were safely evacuated from the building to the street. No one was reported killed or injured.

City fire officials have yet to comment on the school principal’s admission.