Girl dead, ma hurt in Zambo fire

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A three-year old girl was burned  to death while her mother suffered serious burns in the fire that razed more than 50 houses in a slum village east of this city Wednesday afternoon, according to an official here.

Superintendent Dominador Zabala Jr. , City Fire Marshal, said the fire swept the Kasalamatan Village at Barangay Kasanyangan about 3:15 p.m. and razed the houses  in a compound surrounded by concrete walls.

Zabala said the lone fatality was identified as Fatima Rayanne Jalilul, three, while her mother Nurhaida Jalilul suffered third degree burns on her shoulder and forearms.

The elder Jalilul said she tried to rescue her child who was alone inside their house trapped in the fire.

Zabala said fire probers estimated that more than P500,000-worth of properties were damaged by the conflagration.

The official said probers  are still determining the cause of the fire.