CEBU, Philippines - Four people died when a fire gutted a 15-door apartment complex along Don Pedro Rodriguez Street, Capitol Site, Cebu City at dawn yesterday.
Fire Officer 3 Antonio Gonzales said that the victims could have possibly suffocated causing them to lose consciousness, which is why they were not able to go out of their apartment.
The victims were identified as Rolando Caberte, 63, a retired manager of Philippine Air Lines; his daughter Maria Charmaine Caberte, 35, a call center agent; her 15-year-old son, Miguel Paolo Caberte; and the family’s helper, Alma de la Torre, 25, a native of Canlaon, Negros Occidental.
Maria Charmaine was reportedly four months pregnant.
De la Torre, on the other hand, was supposed to tie the knot next month, said her sister Mary Joy.
Gonzales pegged the damage at P3.25 million.
He said they are still conducting a thorough investigation as to what caused the fire.
The survivors could not also point out what took place when the fire started.
He said they will also include in their investigation the allegations of Concepcion Bartido, a stay-out laundrywoman of the Cabertes, that she smelled a burnt electric wire at the apartment two days before the incident.
The fire investigator said though that based on the account of one Virgie Dagle, one of the occupants, the fire originated at room C that was rented by the victims.
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Apartment blaze kills four people | The Freeman >> The Freeman Sections >> Cebu News
The victims were our family friends... Please include them in your prayers that they may rest in peace...