Doctor, househelp die inside burning house in Cebu City

CEBU CITY –– A doctor and her househelp died after they failed to go out of a burning house in Sambag I, in this city late Sunday evening, October 4.

The victims were identified as Dr. Glenda Mayol-Neri, 80, and Francisca Formentera, 71.

According to FO2 Fulbert Navarro of the Cebu City Fire Department, the fire started at 11:30 p.m. and was under control in 12 minutes.

The damage was pegged at P4.8 million.

Fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Navarro said the fire broke out on the ground floor of the two-story house.

Ramil Ayuman, officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CCDRRMO), said Neri and Formentera were trapped inside the house.

“Unfortunately, they were not able to go out of the house,” he said.

The bodies of the two victims were recovered on the second floor of the house.

Ayuman said two residents and a fire volunteer were injured when they tried to help contain the fire.

The fire displaced three families renting rooms in the house.