Halloween horror: Zamboanga fire kills 15

Residents inspect the old market area in Zamboanga City in the aftermath of a three-alarm fire that killed 15 people on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A massive fire that reached the three-alarm category broke out in the Old Public Market at Magay St. here and killed 15 people—six of them children—early morning Saturday, police and fire officials said.

Supt. Dominador Zabala Jr., the city fire marshal, said the first fire call was made at 3:18 a.m. and it was traced to the old market, particularly from the stall owned by a certain “Mannan.”

“The first alarm status was at 3:18 a.m., the second at 3:20 a.m. and the third alarm was sounded off at 3:21 a.m.,” Zabala said, illustrating how serious the fire incident was.

A three-alarm fire is described as a very dangerous situation for the area where it occurred in which firefighters always needed all the help they can get from neighboring areas.

The three-alarm fire level is part of a worldwide system, which determines how serious a blaze is. The highest level is at 10.

Zabala said firefighters from various areas tried to contain the fire but it raged until after the sun showed up.

“Fire off was recorded at 7:50 a.m.,” he said.

In the aftermath of the fire, 15 people died and at least 350 stalls and one privately owned 3-storey building were gutted down, Zabala said.

Chief Insp. Joel Tuttuh, spokesperson of the Zamboanga City Police Office, identified the dead victims, many of them Tausug Muslims: Kayulan Hasiddin, a 48-year old female vendor; Musal Hasiddin, 45; Radzhata Hasiddin, 28; Ruhilyn Hamis, 26; Abei Salahuddin, 40; Nurul-in Salahuddin, 39; Algabid Salahuddin, 20; Marilyn Salahuddin, 32; Binnas Salahuddin, 20; Jasper Hamis, one-year-old; Bunay Hasiddin, one-year-old; Crissamae Hasiddin, three years old; Noynoy Hasiddin, five years old; Nur Ais Hasiddin, nine years old; and Radzmer Hasiddin, 10.

The victims who shared surnames were all related.

Tutuh said eight others were admitted at the Brent Hospital here for varying degree of injuries.

They were Alvin Bete, 14; Annang Erilis, 45; Nurmina Jamiri, 18; Yasser Jamiri, 29; Almudzra Hamis, 31; Midzfar Hamis, 7; Farhana Hamis, 9; and Bennaser Hamis, 32.

“All the victims were vendors of used clothing and vegetables,” Tutuh said.

Explaining the high number of casualties, he said that vendors in the market, along with their families, usually spend the night in their stalls.

Zabala said the investigation was continuing as to how the fire, which also damaged some P8 million in properties, started. RAM

Volunteers retrieve a charred body from the debris of Saturday’s fire at the old market in Zamboanga City, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Volunteers continue to douse the flames past 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. 2015, after the massive fire that hit the old market in Zamboanga City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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