By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Three children died after they were trapped inside their burning house at Sitio Troso, Barangay Buluangan, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday night.
The victims, whose names were withheld, were aged 3, 7, and 9.
Fire officer 2 Neil Bandillo, arson investigator of San Carlos City Fire Station, said the fire started around 8:15 p.m. from the room of the children who were already sleeping.
Bandillo said the barangay has no electricity yet due to the recent devastation caused by Super Typhoon Odette.
Thus, the family lit two candles inside the children’s room. However, the fire probably caught some clothes in the room which led to the deadly blaze.
Bandillo said their neighbors tried to rescue the children, but they failed since the fire was already out of control.
“Isa pa gid sa nagpabudlay ang pwerta nila na nakahigot budlay mabuksan,” he added.
The children’s grandmother was able to leave the burning house but the children were trapped, Bandillo said. Their mother was not at home when it happened, he added.
The fire destroyed 12 houses and damaged two others. It gobbled an estimated P100,000 worth of properties.
