4 dead, 1 hurt in Lucena City fire

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

LUCENA CITY — Four people died in a fire early Friday that gutted at least 15 houses in a residential area in this city, police said.

In a spot report, Lucena City police identified the fatalities as Lolit Lubiano, 72; Juanito, Hernando, 65; Jay Mark Hernando, 18; and Mark Rainiel Hernando, 8.

Corporal Angel Micco Cabangon, the case investigator, did not provide details on the family relationship between the Hernandos except that they were all living together in one of the burned houses.

Another victim identified as Margarita Punzalan, suffered a second-degree burn and was rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment.

READ: Boy, left alone, dead in Lucena City fire

The blaze broke out at 3:45 a.m. in a residential area in Barangay 1 and was put out at 6:26 a.m.

Firemen were still conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Mayor Mark Alcala and his father, Vice Mayor Roderick Alcala, immediately went to the area and met with the victims.

The local officials vowed to provide assistance to the victims. INQ