2 more North Cotabato fire victims die in hospital

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Two more victims in a fire that charred to death a family of four in a remote village in North Cotabato on Monday died in a hospital in Davao City, authorities here said.

Fire Officer 3 Rey Pacres of Bureau of Fire Protection in Makilala, said Mosanip Quila, 39, died in a Davao City hospital at 3 p.m. Wednesday while his daughter Raihana Quila Balasana also expired earlier.

The victims were residents of Purok Maliwanag, Barangay Buhay, Makilala town in North Cotabato.

Pacres said the 3 p.m. fire in the area on Monday charred to death Esnayra Quila, 29, and her children Sohaile, 3, Sohaina, 2 and 3-month old Baby Quila.

Investigation showed that Esnayra was watching television when it suddenly sparked and triggered the fire.

Pacres said the presence of plastic containers of gasoline caught the spreading fire which quickly engulfed the house which was made of light materials.

Pacres said the patriarch, Mosanip Quila, a chainsaw operator, kept gallons of gasoline inside the house.

Esnayra reportedly ran for help from neighbors when the TV set exploded.  When she returned to bring her children out, they were trapped inside.

The local government of Makilala, North Cotabato already extended food, medicine and financial aid to the survivors, three of them in the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.