4 die in Binondo fire

MANILA, Philippines - Amid continuous rains pouring all over Metro Manila, a Chinese businesswoman and her three helpers died in a three-hour fire that hit a commercial-residential building in Binondo, Manila before dawn yesterday.

Building owner Nilda Ching tried to escape. Onlookers saw her asking for help while sticking her foot out of a padlocked grilled-window type fire exit.

Ching’s body was retrieved from the mezzanine of the five-story building while the bodies of her three helpers Fatima, Rema and Princess were recovered on the third and fourth floors.

Arson investigators said the bodies of the helpers were burned beyond recognition.

The victims were asleep when the fire broke out along Tomas Mapua street at around 4:30 a.m. – or 30 minutes after they got home from a gift-giving event.

The blaze spread quickly and affected three other establishments near the affected building. Authorities pegged the structural damage at P3 million.

It is not yet clear what caused the fire but it reportedly originated at the mezzanine. Arson investigators are looking at faulty electrical wiring or a cellphone left charged as possible causes.

The fire reached fifth alarm. Volunteers helped kill it but encountered difficulty in penetrating the area because of the narrow streets leading to the burning building.

The fire was put out at around 7:30 a.m.