- GILBERT BAYORAN
A 39-year-old mother with disability, and her three-year-old daughter, died after their house was razed by fire Monday morning, April 17, in Purok Bayanihan, Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City.
The victims were identified by the Bureau of Fire Protection as Mengel Itchon, who suffered from mild stroke, and her daughter, Jhanella.
Also injured during the incident was Arturo Aplacaor, 84, who sustained minor burns in his back and shoulder, the BFP said, adding that the fire destroyed six more houses and damaged another one.
Fire Chief Inspector Stephen Jardeleza, BFP Bacolod chief, said they are still establishing the cause of fire, which could either be electrical in nature, or from an unattended fire at the kitchen.
The BFP placed the damage at P300,000.
Mayor Alfredo Benitez, who visited the fire scene, said he was told that Jhanella tried to drag her mother outside of their residence.
Benitez said the mother, however, ordered her child to go out first. But the minor did not leave her mother.
Their charred bodies were discovered by the BFP firefighters, who managed to put out the fire about 20 minutes after its occurrence.
In a press briefing, Benitez said he was informed that the child was still holding onto the hands of her mother when the firefighters found their bodies./GB
