Woman dead, 144 families homeless in QC blaze

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Around 144 families lost their homes and a woman driven to panic died of a heart attack as a fire engulfed a Quezon City neighborhood Friday.

Cherry Samonte, 51, was declared dead on arrival at Quezon City General Hospital following the early afternoon blaze in Barangay Pasong Tamo.

Deputy city fire marshal Supt. Samuel Tadeo said three residents were also injured in the fire that started around 1:45 p.m. They were identified as Arnel Beltran, 37; Virginia Promentina, 49; and Jerry Montecalbo, 40.

An initial investigation showed that the fire started on the ground floor of a two-story house owned by Amy Tybocsing, 36, on Sitio Pasong Cruz.

Firefighters took until 3:20 p.m. to put out the fire, which swept through 36 houses and destroyed an estimated P2 million worth of property.

Tadeo said Samonte, one of the affected residents, was rushed to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. Julie M. Aurelio