7 killed in Quezon City fire

MANILA, Philippines - Despite a heavy downpour and floods brought by typhoon Ondoy, seven people died after a fire razed a slum area in Quezon City Saturday night.

Some 500 poor families were also displaced by the seven-hour blaze that destroyed more than P1 million worth of property.

Among those who died were jeepney driver Vivencio Lubitaña, 57, and his wife Felisa, 56; and their niece Rina Lubitaña Ramos, 8. Also killed were Joan Magcarang, 24; her nephew Aaron Nathaniel Magcarang, 5; Melanie Bundoco, 28; and March Loren Laureo delos Reyes, a six-month old baby.

Information gathered from the Quezon City Fire Department said the fire started at around 6:52 p.m. in one of the houses at No. 66 Compound on Agno street in Barangay Tatalon.

Firefighters declared the blaze under control five hours later at around 11:55 p.m. but were able to completely put the fire out at around 2:00 a.m. yesterday.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Fortunato Alde said those who lost their homes are now housed in elementary schools in Barangay Tatalon.

He said faulty electrical wiring apparently caused a short circuit that started the fire while it was still raining. He explained that though the houses were wet, an electrical fire would still spread because wires or cables are wet or damp.

“In electrical fires, water would not be enough, chemicals will have to be used because water is a good conductor of electricity,” Alde told The STAR in an interview.

Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano, Quezon City Police District homicide section chief, said two of those who died were found two hours after the fire was put out.