Girl, 5, dies in fire

BACOLOD CITY ,Philippines  — A 5-year-old girl died when she was trapped inside her family’s burning hut at Barangay Cabacungan in La Castellana town, Negros Occidental Tuesday morning, police said.

The police identified the fatality as Jesil Sison, who reportedly could not walk or speak and who was not able to get out of their house while it was engulfed with fire.

Gemma, the victim’s mother, told the police that she and her husband were at work when the incident happened, while Jesil was in the house with her four siblings, aged 8, 7, 3 and 1.

Gemma said her children told her that LJ had lighted a candle and accidentally dropped it. The fire quickly spread and all her children were able to go out to safety except for Jesil who was trapped inside.

La Castellana Mayor Alberto Nicor said the town’s fire truck could not reach the victim’s area because there was no accessible road to it.

The mayor said he extended financial support and donated groceries to the Sison family, who are now temporarily staying in the house of a relative.