8 burned to death in CdO

MANILA, Philippines — Eight people got burned to death while five others were injured in a two-hour blaze that destroyed a two-story commercial building at the public market of Cagayan de Oro City early Saturday morning, the local fire marshal said.

Fire Chief Inspector Benigno Amomonpon, fire marshal of the Cagayan de Oro City, said the five survivors would have been roasted alive had they not been able to force their way out of the second floor of the building where their eight other companions burned to death.

“They escaped through the window by destroying the iron grills, it was there where they jumped off to their safety. But they sustained third degree burns and some lacerations,” said Amomonpon of the five injured victims.

He identified the fatalities as Luz Pana, Emily Chung, Chembelyn Macusi, Jackilyn Resurrecion, Cheryl Tortugo, Russel Padero, Lorena Pahunang, and Benjie Taneo.

“All of them were charred, they were burned beyond recognition,” said Amomonpon.

The two-story building, the official said, houses a grocery and other wholesale and retail stores owned by a certain Elsa Pana.

Her sister Luz who died in the incident is the store supervisor and stay-in at the building along with 12 other helpers.

“The eight fatalities were trapped. They could not go out because the main entrance of the unit where they sleep was locked. They locked the main entrance for security measures, unfortunately, they were not able to think of their safety in cases like that,” said Amomonpon.

Quoting results of the initial investigation, Amomonpon said the blaze started at 2:25 a.m. yesterday, with arson investigators believing that the fire originated at Door 3 of the second floor of the building as it was the area which was totally destroyed.

It was in Door 3 where the 12 workers were staying, according to Amomonpon.

Only firemen from the Cagayan de Oro City responded to snuff out the blaze in the building at the public market located in Barangay Puerto at the Cagayan de Oro City proper. The fire, which only reached second alarm, was placed under control two hours later.

“We are still conducting investigation to determine the cause of the fire,” said Amomonpon.

But he said it could not be blamed on rotation brownout that previously hit Mindanao before, saying the power problem has already been resolved a long time ago. –AARON RECUENCO, Manila Bulletin