BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—The death toll from the fire that hit a Bacolod boarding house and surrounding homes early Monday rose to 17, after the body of a woman was found underneath the rubble, an official said Tuesday.

Bacolod Fire Chief Pamela Rojane Candido identified the charred remains of Annavic Celiz, 26, whose family also died in the fire.

The bodies of Celiz’s common-law husband and fish vendor Joselito Cabajosa, 28, and their children, Carl Joshua, 3, Analyn, 7, and Adah Pauline, 6, were found shortly after the fire was put out Monday morning, said Candido.

All 17 fatalities were occupants of the boarding house, said Candido.

Authorities said the fire, which damaged P4 million worth of properties including 63 other houses in Barangay 19, was started by an unattended candle in one of the boarding house rooms.

A 59-year-old Gloria Abrigo, who stayed on the first floor of the building, had lit a candle and dozed off, said the fire chief.

“We have witnesses [who claim] that her [unattended] candle caused the fire,” Candido said.

Abrigo, who sustained burns on the upper body, remained at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Candido said.

Candido said the department will step up its building inspection for fire safety after it learned that the burned boarding house, which housed mostly families of market vendors, did not have a business permit, Candido said.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia has issued an executive order declaring a week of mourning from November 2 to 8 for the victims of the fire.

Presidential Deputy Spokesman Anthony Golez said Department of Social Welfare and Development would give an assistance of P10,000 to the family of each fatality and send its personnel to Bacolod to assist the victims, said Golez.

Families who were affected by the fire would also receive shelter assistance but the amount has yet to be determined, Golez said.