8 trapped women die in Pasay fire
MANILA, Philippines—Eight female workers trapped inside a DVD warehouse in Pasay City died of suffocation as the building was engulfed at the early hours of Friday died of suffocation.
A Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) official said the eight women were inside a padlocked room at the second floor of a warehouse along P. Samonte Street in Barangay (village) 47 when the fire started at 12:45 a.m.
Senior Inspector Romeo Pepito Jr., Bureau of Fire Protection Fire Arson Investigation chief, told INQUIRER.net in a text message that the charred bodies of the trapped workers were found piled inside the room.
Fire Officer 2 Joan Batan, of the Pasay Fire Department, identified the fatalities as Maricris Calumba, 21; Jelsa Saburiga, 19; Renelyn De Baguio, 21; Angelyn Quillano, 21; Shellalyn Habagat, 19, Floralyn Balucos, 20; Heidilisa Ib-ib, 24 and Lorena Ib-ib, 21.
The victims were natives of Dumaguete and Cagayan de Oro.
Batan said eight other workers survived as they were able to escape from the room by climbing the rooftop.
Article continues after this advertisementThe eight survivors were Michell Callao, Jessa Mae Callao, Almira Zuniga, Cherylyn Calum, Janice Baja, Dally Delos Ninos, Irene Acuna and Nikki Torres.
Article continues after this advertisementThey were taken to the Pasay City General Hospital but were discharged after being treated.
Although the fire only reached second alarm, firefighters had difficulty putting out the fire. It was only put under control around 3:02 a.m.
The warehouse was owned by a certain Juanito Go, 68, a Chinese businessman.
In a television report, Go denied locking up the stay-in workers, insisting that he had no idea why the room was padlocked.
“Aksidente ito. Wala tayong magagawa doon. Babayaran naman sila ng kumpanya,” he said.
Go was placed under the custody of the Pasay City Police for investigation. With a report from Nestor Corrales
Originally posted: 2:12 am | Friday, May 30th, 2014
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