Just a week after Typhoon Rolly ravaged the Bicol Region, seven members of a family were killed in a fire that gutted their house in Zone 3 Vinagre, Tigaon in Camarines Sur.
“Naririnig ko may mga umiiyak na bata, tapos may mga ungol… Hindi na sila makasigaw kasi grabe na ‘yung suffocation nila. Humihingi talaga sila ng tulong (I heard the kids crying… They could no longer shout due to suffocation. They were really asking for help),” fire victim Karen Avila recounted.
Authorities are suspecting that an unattended burning candle caused the fire since the area is still experiencing brownout due to the impact of Typhoons Quinta and Rolly.
“Mahimbing po ang pagkakatulog ng mga biktima at mukhang naiwanan po nilang nakailaw po ang kandila at mukhang nakapatong po sa lalagyang namadaling masunog (The victims were sleeping soundly and they might have left a lighted candle on a light material),” Fire Prevention Section chief SFO1 Francis Morcilla theorized.
The family has just transferred to the house at around 6 o’clock in the evening. The BFP is suspecting that the family is still unfamiliar with the fire exit.
“Hindi po nila siguro alam ‘yung window exit, ‘yung location ng window exit. Malamang sa malamang, hindi po nila nakita (They might not have known the window exit and its location. They might have not seen it),” Morcilla stated.
Recovered from the site are bodies of a mother and her three children embracing each other. The bodies have been charred almost beyond recognition. – Report from Eunice Samonte
