Five people, including an 11-month-old infant, died after a fire hit a two-story apartment building in Barangay 8, Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City early Sunday morning.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire started at around 1:01 a.m. on the ground floor of the building along Sinilyasi Street, where an auto repair shop was located. The flames quickly spread to the residential units on the second floor.
Although the fire only reached the first alarm, the intense heat caused electrical wires to explode and heavily damaged the second floor, which was built with a combination of concrete and light materials.
Firefighters placed the fire under control at 1:24 a.m. before fully putting it out at 2:04 a.m.
Authorities later found the bodies of five residents who had been trapped inside their rooms. The victims include a mother and her 11-month-old baby.
Initial estimates placed the damage to property at P500,000.Barangay officials said the victims’ relatives would be temporarily housed at the barangay hall while they recover from the tragedy. Other residents displaced by the fire also appealed for assistance after losing their homes and belongings.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the cause of the fire.