A fire investigator checks on the remains of the four children who perished in a fire in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City on Thursday, Nov. 22. (Photo via Calvin D.  Cordova)

CEBU CITY—Four children died in a fire that hit a residential area early Thursday morning, Nov. 23, in Barangay Tisa here.

The fatalities included three siblings and their 11-month-old cousin. 

Siblings Angelo Bayaton, 10, Cyrlle Bayaton, 6, Christina Bayaton, 1, and their cousin Amari Zane Cabornay were burned beyond recognition.

The victims were sleeping on the second floor of the house when the fire broke out past 5 a.m.

The Cabornays and the Bayatons live in the same house located in Sitio Upper Capaculan, Barangay Tisa.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated, said SFO2 Wendell Villanueva, information officer of the Cebu City Fire Department.

The fire started at the house of the victims then spread to six other houses.

Amari Zane’s parents, Pristine, 30, and Gelou, 31, and her six-year-old brother Zachary Blake were Able escape from the burning house but sustained burn injuries.

Villanueva said Pristine was able to grab Amari Zane but the extreme heat forced her to drop the child as they were escaping from the burning house.

The city’s Social Welfare and Development Office (SWDO) has promised to extend assistance to the fire victims.

Anecita Suico, officer-in-charge of the SWDO, said the city will shoulder the hospital expenses of those who were injured in the fire incident.

The city also will help shoulder the burial expenses of the fatalities.

The victims’ uncle, Elmer Cabornay, said they heard Angelo shouting for help and saw him hug his two siblings while the fire started to eat up their house.

Elmer said they tried to rescue the children but the fire had spread and prevented them from entering the house.

The fire destroyed at least P500,000 worth of property.