A tragic fire engulfed a three-story residential building in the early hours of Thursday in the Philippines' capital region, resulting in the loss of eight lives. The incident occurred in San Isidro Galas village, a suburb of Quezon city, where the wooden structure quickly became a raging inferno as residents slept.
According to officials, the blaze, which lasted less than an hour, also left one resident injured. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, with authorities working to determine the origin of the deadly inferno.
Senior fire officer Rolando Valeña revealed that two victims were discovered on the ground floor, while the bodies of six others were found on the second floor, where the fire is believed to have originated. Eyewitnesses reported the rapid spread of flames and thick smoke, trapping many residents inside the building.
Survivor Beverly Salvador recounted a harrowing escape with her family from the third floor, navigating through a small bathroom window to reach the roof of a neighboring house. Salvador expressed deep sorrow upon learning that two families, who were close friends, had perished in the blaze on the second floor.
The tragic incident occurred just days before the Philippines observes fire-prevention month in March, a period dedicated to raising awareness about fire hazards ahead of the scorching summer season. The country has a history of deadly fires attributed to factors such as poor safety regulations, overcrowding, and substandard building designs.
Notably, a devastating disco fire in Quezon city in 1996 claimed the lives of 162 individuals, many of whom were students celebrating the end of the school year. The tragedy was exacerbated by blocked emergency exits, preventing escape and resulting in one of the deadliest nightclub fires in recent history.
