5 children dead as blaze sweeps through Manila slum

Some residents of Tondo appear to get on with their every day lives as smoke billows behind them from a blaze destroying homes along Laperal Street in Tondo, Manila, on Monday, August 27, 2018. PHOTO COURTESY OF FIREALERTMETROMANILA TWITTER PAGE

(Updated at 6:15 p.m.) The Manila Fire Department has confirmed that five people have died in the fire that gobbled up a residential community along Laperal corner Herbosa Streets in Tondo, Manila on Monday morning.

A report from Arson Investigator Sr. Fire Officer 4 Victor Bag-id said the victims — all of them children — died in the incident.

Raxabago Police Station identified the casualties as siblings John Mike Gemeniano, 12; Michael Gemeniano, 7; Marcelo Nikko Gemeniano, 4; Mhiel Mikael Gemeniano, 3; and Michaella Gemeniano, 1.

According to initial investigation, the fire started at around 9:17 a.m. at the residence of the five victims, a three-story building in Laperal Street corner Herbosa Streets , Barangay 91 Zone 8, Manila.

The five were believed to have died from suffocation or smoke inhalation after they were trapped inside the burning houses.

Before the fire was declared under control by 11:45 a.m. and out by 1:34 p.m, Manila Fire authorities had raised the fourth alarm.

Six other individuals living near the area were reported to have sustained injuries.  Investigators have yet to point to the cause of the fire, but damages are estimated at around P120,000. /cbb, je