Date / 03 May, 2017.Philippine
2 die in fire
Updated: 2017-05-03-12:00
Firefighters and residents of Barangay Canjulao in Lapu-Lapu City bring down the remains of an old woman and her grandchild from the second floor of the house where they were trapped and died during the fire yesterday. Joy Torrejos
They were the most vulnerable and they died helplessly as fire engulfed their home.
Aurea Jumao-as, 86, and her 14-year-old granddaughter, Jane, did not make it out safely when fire hit their house and 15 others in Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City early yesterday afternoon.
Aurea had difficulty walking and Jane was a special child.
Aurea’s daughter, Edna, the mother of Jane, could only cry in sadness and regret.
"Wala na gyud nako maluwas ang akong mama ug akong anak kay dako naman gyud kaayo ang kalayo ug nagkaratol na sab mi," Edna said in between tears.
The remains of Aurea and Jane were recovered from the second floor of the house where the fire was believed to have started.
The fire in Canjulao was the second that hit Lapu-Lapu City yesterday. The first occurred at a residential building in Barangay Pajo at nearly 9 a.m.
No casualty was reported in that incident but damage to property was estimated at P100,000.
Investigation showed that the fire in Pajo started when an LPG tank in the unit occupied by one Glenn Abad at the upper level of the building reportedly leaked.
The fire damaged the unit but firefighters managed to control it before it can spread to the lower part of the building.
Another fire affected at least six houses in Sitio Crusher, Barangay Lawaan 3, in Talisay City at around 7 p.m.
SFO3 Rudolfo Luage of the Talisay Fire Department told The FREEMAN last night the area is located in the interior portion of the barangay and most of the houses were made of light materials.
"Sudlunon kaayo ang area unya dili pa ta ka-determine if totally burned ba ug asa nagsugod ang sunog," he said.
No injury was reported as of 9:30 last night.