3 children perish in blaze

CEBU, Philippines - Fire took the lives of three children in barangay Babag II, Lapu-Lapu City while their parents were out last Sunday night to earn a living.

The victims aged 11, 8 and 5 years old were left home while their father was driving a jeepney and their mother joined him to help collect the fare.

The fatalities were identified as Yenchelle (11), Yenchemarie (8), and Mark John (5) all surnamed Sanchez.

A fourth sibling, Joel, the eldest child, was spared from the tragedy as he was in an aunt’s house to watch television.

Lapu-Lapu City Fire Chief Ricardo Cornelio identified the victims’ parents as Michael and Jocelyn Sanchez.

Based on the initial investigation, it was learned that the Sanchez family did not have electricity in their house and there is suspicion that a lighted candle started the blaze.

Neighbors said that at around 8 p.m., they saw Yachel bringing a candle.The witnesses said that this is a normal practice of the household when the kids are left at home.

Fire investigators said that the fire could have been triggered when a lighted candle fell.The fire readily spread as it was made of light materials.

Neighbors tried to rush to the aid of the children when they shouted for help, but were prevented from getting in due to the window grills.The house was also locked.

The witnesses said that they also heard to big explosions when the house was ablaze and they suspect that these were pyrotechnics that were stored.

Cornelio said that they are looking at all possible angles of this incident and will have to invite more witnesses.

The firemen, who responded to the alarm, said that it was very difficult for them to get the scene due to the lack of an access road.

The bodies of the victims have been brought to the Rolling Hills Memorial Chapel in Mandaue City.

Fire investigators placed the damage at P60,000.

The suspicion that there were firecrackers stored in the house will be something that the investigators will closely look into.

Barangay Babag II is considered the firecracker capital in the Visayas because of the many large and small-scale manufacturers in the area.

Several incidents of firecracker-related explosions, which resulted in death and injuries, had taken place in the area but the trade continues, as residents claim firecracker making is their only means of livelihood. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)