A 5-year-old child died and 26 houses were destroyed in a fire that hit Purok Ipil-Ipil, Brgy. 1, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, March 15.
There are 109 residents affected by the fire who are now staying in the Barangay 1 Evacuation Center, Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., San Carlos City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer, said Sunday.
The child was trapped inside a room of her house, FO1 Reynan Jundos, Bureau of Fire Protection-San Carlos investigator, said.
The victim, together with her two siblings were sleeping while their grandmother was watching them when the fire broke out.
They immediately went out of their house, however, the victim reportedly went back in the house because she was afraid of the fire, the investigator said.
About 30 families were affected by the fire that spread quickly as most of the residents of the area were attending a funeral, Jundos said.
The fire allegedly started from the house owned by Norisa Era, 53.
A woman also sustained first-degree burns in her hands, shoulders, and nose.
Jundos said that they are still investigating the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.*