2 killed, 800 families left homeless by fire in Cainta, Rizal

MANILA, Philippines – Two persons were killed after a fire razed over 300 houses in a residential community in Cainta, Rizal, on Sunday, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) confirmed Monday.

The BFP identified the victims as Maria Refol Cabucas, 81, and John Bell Lorenzo, 26, whose bodies were burned beyond recognition in the blaze.

Fire Senior Inspector Erichson Malamug told INQUIRER.net that the remains of Cabucas were recovered Sunday while Lorenzo’s charred body was found on Monday.

Malamug surmised that both victims had died of suffocation before being engulfed by flames.

The fire started at a house on 3rd St. San Buena compound, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Cainta, Rizal, at 5:06 p.m.

It spread to the adjacent Gruar Subdivision and reached Task Force Alpha at 6:27 p.m.

It was declared fire out at 9:58 p.m., the BFP said.

The blaze that hit the community near the corner of Ortigas Avenue and Felix Avenue caused several hours of heavy traffic along both vehicular arteries, affecting travel to and from Rizal province and Metro Manila.

The 800 families affected by the fire were evacuated to the covered court of the barangay.

Malamug said that investigators were still looking into the cause of the blaze that left P6 million in damage to property. /cbb