Two dead in Makati fire

MANILA, Philippines - Two persons died in an early morning blaze that struck a row of seven apartments in Barangay West Rembo in Makati City yesterday.

Danilo Deloviar, 60, and Grace Quintanar, 35, were burned beyond recognition, Makati fire chief Ric Perdigon said.

Initial investigation showed that the fire started at about 1:30 a.m. at the second floor of the apartment owned by Deloviar. The flames quickly reached Task Force Alpha and spread to the adjacent apartment owned by Quintanar.

Perdigon said the victims appeared to have been trapped by the fire. “They were most probably awakened from sleep by the fire and were rushing to get out of their houses when they got trapped,” he said.

Perdigon said the victims were found at the ground floor of their apartments. Makati firefighters who rushed to the scene put out the blaze after an hour.

Perdigon said an initial investigation report points to an illegal electrical connection as a possible cause of the fire.