TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines — Two children were killed and seven families were left homeless in a fire that hit a neighborhood in this city on Sunday night, officials on Monday said.
A woman was also hurt as the fire engulfed parts of Purok (Community) Rupenta Uno, Magugpo East village past 9 p.m., according to Giovanni Rellon, head of the city disaster risk reduction management office (CDRRMO).
Senior Fire Officer 1 Demar Binanua, arson investigator from the Tagum City fire station, identified the fatalities as Crisson Martinez, 3, and his one-year old brother Crisssus.
Their grandmother, Hanna, was injured.
Fire trucks from the Tagum BFP and the CDRRMO rushed to the scene, and firemen were able to put out the fire around 10 p.m., Binanua said.
Binanua said the fire started at the house of the Martinezes after a lighted candle toppled over around 9:10 p.m.
“The household was using candle after (local electric utility) Daneco (Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative) cut its power connection for non-payment of bills,” Binanua told Philippine Daily Inquirer by text message.
The flames grew quickly and spread to nearby homes, with the victims trapped in their house, the arson investigator said, adding that damage to property was pegged at P680,000.