3 killed as fire razes lodging house in Lanao Norte

MANILA, Philippines—Three people, including a child, were killed, and two others were injured in a fire that gutted a two-story lodging house in Lanao del Norte, a city fire marshal said Friday.

Senior Police Officer 1 Rolando Dela Pena, Kapatagan municipal fire marshal, said the fire on Purok 5, Poblacion Kapatagan, happened past 10 p.m. Wednesday but was reported to media only on Friday.

He said the three fatalities – a male, female, and a 7-year-old child – were found inside the bathroom on the second floor of the establishment.

Owners of the lodge identified as Rolando and Ester Mocoro, meanwhile, sustained minor burn injuries, Dela Pena said.

He said initial investigation showed that an unattended lamp may have been the cause of the fire. Power supply had been cut off in the area during the time of the incident.

“Binibigyan kasi ng lampara ng may-ari mga nagre-rent doon kapag walang kuryente,” Dela Pena said.

He said the blaze reached Task Force Alpha before it was completely put out at 11:27 p.m., Wednesday, adding that the cost of damages was at P6 million.