8 kids hurt in Sta. Cruz school fire

Eight children were injured when a fire broke out at a public elementary school in Sta. Cruz, Manila yesterday afternoon.

Injured were Alvin Grego, 7; John Allen Lozero, 9; Kevin Lozada, 4; Arly Guevarra, 15; Mar Alfren Casenas, 3; Roseann  Reyes, 10; Lawrence Braseria, 15; and  Adrian Vitug, 14.

Investigators said the children were watching firefighters try to control the fire when debris from the building fell on them. They were brought to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for treatment.

The blaze started at around 12:27 p.m. at the six-story Habana I building of Francisco Balagtas Elementary School (FBES) and immediately spread to neighboring buildings, including the nearby Teodoro Alonzo High School.

The library, museum, records section and gymnasium of FBES were razed before the fire was put out at 2:45 p.m.

Probers said the fire reached the fifth alarm reportedly after responding firefighters ran out of water.

Investigators from Manila Fire District said the fire could have started at the second floor of Habana I building, where a wall fan was reportedly left running.

But they said they have to complete their investigation first to determine the real cause of the fire and the extent of damage.