MANILA, Philippines — Four members of a family died while another was injured after a fire engulfed a townhouse in Quezon City on Tuesday.
The victims, who reportedly died of suffocation and severe burns, were found on the ground floor of the two-story house in Barangay Bahay Toro.
The fatalities were Roberto Aquino, 64; his wife Alona, 61, their daughter Mercedes and a 17-year-old girl.
A 41-year-old man, known only as Angelo, was brought to a hospital for treatment of injuries.
A neighbor of the victims told probers he heard an explosion from the house prior to the fire.
One of the residents tried to put out the flames using a fire extinguisher, but to no avail.
Barangay public safety officer Bernardo Asistorga said an e-bike charger was the likely cause of the fire.