3 dead in Caloocan City fire

MANILA, Philippines - Three people perished in a fire that gutted down their rented room in Caloocan City late Friday, police said.

Caloocan City fire marshal Chief Inspector Ruel Jeremy Diaz said the three victims who were identified as Donna Jimenez, 22, her uncle Efren Jimenez, 57 and cousin RJ Jimenez, were trapped inside their rented room at 254 Rizal Avenue Extension, Grace Park East, Caloocan City.

Diaz said the three victims apparently died from suffocation due to smoke inhalation.

Initial investigation showed the 30-minute fire was caused by an overload of the electrical switch located at the second floor of the apartment where the victims are tenants.

Arson investigator Senior Fire Officer 4 Randy Resurreccion said the victims apparently failed to get out of the room immediately after they were engulfed in smoke.

Resurreccion said rainwater leaking from the roof seeped in to the electrical switch, causing a short-circuit that triggered the fire. – Jerry Botial