Boy dies in Manila fire

MANILA, Philippines—A fire that struck a residential compound in Sampaloc, Manila, took the life of a three-year-old on Wednesday morning.

The body of Adam Johan Tolentino was found on the second floor of their house after firemen put out the blaze that burned down 10 wooden homes on Miguelin Street.

Senior Fire Officer 2 John Joseph Jaligue said the fire started at the rear portion of the ground floor of the Tolentino home at around 9 a.m.

Jaligue surmised the boy may have died of suffocation.

“He was found lying face-down, with burns on his face and head, but he was only partially burned,” Jaligue said.

He said Adam had been left in the care of his grandfather while his parents were at work.

Jaligue said that the compound was largely inhabited by the Tolentino family.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Jaligue said.

Jaligue estimate the amount of the damage at around P400,000.