2 kids trapped to death in Lapu-Lapu City blaze
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – Two children, aged 1 and 3, perished when fire broke out Friday afternoon, midway through Fire Prevention Month in Sitio New Paradise, Camansi and Kitchen in Barangay Pajo here.
The grief-stricken mother of the two children, Jennifer Cañedo, 28, broke down in tears after the recovery of the charred remains of the young casualties.
Cañedo, a mother of five, tearfully narrated that prior to the blaze, her two young children were left playing at the third floor of their residence.
When the fire broke out, she hurriedly grabbed her other children and ran to safety, only to learn that the two younger children were still in the house.
While the two children were crying for help, the fire spread rapidly, making it impossible to safely rescue them.
Jennifer and her mother Lilia located the remains of the children at around 5 a.m. yesterday.
According to Fire Officer 3 Ruffred Amores of the Lapu-Lapu City Fire Department, the fire was placed under control almost two hours after it broke out at 5 p.m.
Amores said that damage to property was initially pegged at R500,000.
Amores said that based on initial investigation, the fire started at the Cañedo residence, where the two casualties allegedly played with matches. The houses were made of easilycombustible materials that acceler- ated the spread of the fire.
Barangay Pajo chairman Junard Chan told the Manila Bulletin that the displaced residents are temporarily sheltered at the Pajo Elementary School, Pajo National High School and Pajo Gym.
Chan said the three affected sitios are depressed areas.Chan is also appealing for help in behalf of his constituents. Cham said displaced residents primarily need food, water, clothes, mats and medicines.
Meanwhile, another fire broke out in Barangay Gun-ob also in LapuLapu City.
No fatalities or serious injuries were reported.