5 die in Iligan fire

ILIGAN CITY  , Philippines  —  Five members of a family died in a fire that hit a residential area along Fuentes road in Barangay Maria Cristina in this city at about 3 a.m. yesterday.

A woman and four of her children identified only by their surname of Baricuatro were sleeping when the fire broke out, according to initial reports.

The father of the children reportedly works as a seaman.

The fire destroyed four other houses and left at least eight families homeless.

The Bureau of Fire Protection is still investigating the cause of the fire.

In North Cotabato, a family of four died in a fire that destroyed their house on Monday.

Esnayra Quila and her children Sohaile, 3; Sohaina, 2, and a four-month-old were trapped in their house in remote Barangay Buhay in Makilala town.

Fire Officer 3 Rey Pacres said five other occupants of the house suffered severe burns.

The victims were still being treated in a hospital yesterday.   – With John Unson