Play ends in deadly fire

TAGUM CITY, Philippines – Playtime turned tragic for an eight-year-old boy who died after he and his playmates started a fire that later engulfed a house in Panabo City, the police said Friday.

Kiel Santiago, a Grade 3 pupil, died of severe burns following noontime Thursday’s incident in Purok I in Kasilak village, Senior Superintendent Samuel Gadingan, acting Davao del Norte police chief, said.

Gadingan said the victim and several other children got hold of some amount of gasoline at the house of one Valentino Prieto and accidentally started a fire.

The fire burned uncontrollably and the victim was killed when he was not able to get out of the house.

“The other children were able to run away unharmed,” Gadingan said.

The victim’s charred body was recovered past 1 p.m. after  the fire was put under control, he said.

Damaged to property was estimated  by arson investigators at about P200,000.