A 65-year-old widow who is paralyzed died after she was trapped inside her burning house in the mountain barangay of Campangga, Barili town at about 3:30 dawn yesterday.
The victim, Sebarina Ungria, was living alone in the house and was already sleeping when the incident happened.
PO2 Hector Veloso, the investigator handling the case, said the victim lit a lamp and placed it on the table beside her bed. However, in the middle of the night, Ungria accidentally kicked the table, causing the gas lamp to fall on the floor causing fire.
Ungria’s house was made of light materials and, Veloso said, the fire quickly went out of control, especially with the spilled gas.
The police theorized that Ungria could not save herself even if she was awakened by the fire because she was paralyzed and could not move freely.
Damage to Ungria’s house was pegged at P25,000. — Garry B. Lao/QSB