By Glazyl M. Jopson
BACOLOD CITY – A 68-year-old man died in a sugarcane field fire in Barangay Man-uling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental on Friday.
The victim was identified as Eleno, a resident of the same village.
Fire Officer 1 John Rey Salan, arson investigator at the Cauayan Municipal Fire Station, said the victim had been burning dried sugarcane residues when embers possibly spread to a nearby sugarcane field and ignited the fire.
The victim reportedly tried to extinguish the flames but became trapped.
Salan said rescuers retrieved the victim’s body from the area before firefighters arrived.
The victim was brought to a hospital, where he was declared dead.
Authorities are waiting for the property owner to declare the estimated cost of the fire damage.
An investigation is ongoing.
