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| Iloilo fire kills teener Displaces 24 families By David Israel SinayPhilippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 16:01:00 12/31/2008 Filed Under: Fire
ILOILO CITY, Philippines—One person died and 24 families were displaced when fire hit a slum area late Tuesday evening in Tanza-Esperanza here, a village official said. Tanza-Esperanza village chief Noel Odicta said the body of Richard Docdocil, 18, was found under the stairs of their house. Odicta said the victim suffered from a mental illness, which may have hampered his escape from the blaze. Fire officials are looking at two versions of the cause of the fire: that a rocket fire cracker (kwitis) may have entered the second floor of the house of Harlic Paampag, burning the curtains; or the curtains in Paampag’s house may have caught fire from an unattended candle. Odicta said a narrow pathway, only about a meter wide, made it difficult for firemen to reach the fire which was in the middle of the squatters area some 200 meters away from the main road. The fire started around 10 p.m. and was declared under control around 11:30 p.m. Odicta said damage to property may have reached over a million as the residents were not able to save most of their personal belongings, save for the clothes on their backs and what they were able to immediately carry. “The fire (spread) swiftly to neighboring houses since they were made of light materials,” he said. Odicta said if not for his firewall, his residence might have also been burned as the house adjacent to his was destroyed by the blaze. Mayor Jerry Treñas immediately directed the City Social Welfare and Development Office to identify and provide assistance to the dislocated families. He said that food assistance consisting of noodles, sardines and rice were extended to the affected households. “We are providing used clothing. We will also extend financial assistance on Monday,” Treñas said. Councilor Irene Ong, federation president of village chiefs in the metropolis, also promised to provide assistance to the victims, who will temporarily be housed at the Rizal Elementary School and Tanza-Bonifacio Elementary School. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20081231-180820/Iloilo-fire-kills-teener |