ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Three children were killed in a fire that took place in an outskirt village here Wednesday night.
Supt. Dominador Zabala Jr., the city fire marshal, said the fire broke out at the two-story semi-concrete house owned by Nursih Tunga in Barangay Tictapul, some 86 kilometers east of the city around 9:33 p.m.
Zabala said investigation showed the fire was caused by a gas lamp that toppled.
He identified those killed as Tunga siblings Abdul Asis, 12; Abdul Latip, 10; and Alih, 8.
Zabala said the fire raged until 11:20 p.m. and also destroyed P150,000 in properties.
Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, city police director, said the victims fell asleep while studying at the second floor of the house using a kerosene lamp.
The kerosene lamp might have tilted or overheated, and then caught fire.
The charred remains of the three children were recovered and buried in an Islamic rite on Thursday morning.