A 4-year-old boy died while a 20-year-old woman was injured after a fire hit a residential area in General Malvar St., Barangay South Cembo, Makati City early Friday morning, March 10.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire started at 1:07 a.m. and reached the third alarm at 1:29 a.m. It was declared fire out at 2:26 a.m.
The BFP confirmed that the boy was found dead inside the house where the fire started. His remains were identified by his family.
"Umaasa ang pamilya na nawawala lang nung magtakbuhan sila sa labas but unfortunately, after mafire out na and nagamit na lahat ng paraan lara mahanap yung bata dito sa harap and sa likod ng compound na to or ng eskinita na to, hindi talaga lumabas yung bata or hindi talaga nakita yung bata (The family was hoping that the boy just got lost when they all ran outside to escape the fire but unfortunately, after declaring fire out and we have exhausted all means looking for the boy at the front or behind the compound, he didn't show up or he was not found)," SF04 Judy Saberon said in an interview with GMA.
Saberon said firefighters had a difficult time putting out the fire due to the houses being so close to one another and the street is too narrow for firetrucks to enter. She also noted that the closest fire hydrant was very loose, further limiting the responders' capability to extinguish the blaze.
The BFP is still investigating the cause of the fire.
Meanwhile, the LGU had already set up a temporary evacuation site for the residents affected by the fire.