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A three-year-old girl and a 61-year-old widow were killed in separate fire incidents on All Souls’ and All Saints’ Days.
An unattended candle at the altar inside a nipa hut triggered the fire in Toledo City on All Souls’ Day.
Killed was Mariel Manubag, 3, who was sleeping inside the nipa hut about 9 p.m. in Don Andres Soriano Quimada, Toledo City.
Fire investigators said the fire spread quickly because the house was made of light materials.
Fire investigators said Manubag, who was left in the care of his father and grandparents, was asleep when her grandmother, Alejandra Unabia, finished praying and offering food at the altar.
Unabia lit a candle at the altar and went to a neighbor's house to pray there.
She brought along Manubag’s five-year-old brother, leaving her asleep alone in the house.
Manubag’s father, Marvin, and her grandfather Isabello Unabia left earlier for a walk in the barangay.
The fire razed the nipa hut and killed Manubag.
Investigators placed the damage to property at P30,000.
Mendaros said Manubag’s body was not yet placed in a casket because the victim's family was poor and could not afford a casket.
They, however, planned to seek financial help from the local government today.
Yesterday, a paralytic widow was killed after a fire hit the second floor of the family's two-story house in sitio Riverside, Gorordo Avenue, barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
Anecita Sanchez was left by her son to work in a nearby barbeque store.
Niña Radan, who was taking care of Sanchez, left her to the care of Radan's 13-year-old daughter because she had yet to visit the cemetery.
The fire started about 5:40 p.m. on the second floor area near where Sanchez was staying.
Radan’s daughter who was playing on the first floor panicked and left Sanchez upstairs.
Firefighters put the fire under control about 7:40 p.m.
The fire destroyed the second floor of Sanchez house and damaged two houses nearby.
Investigators estimated the damage to property at P200,000. /with a report from Correspondent Chris A. Ligan
