Six die in Marikina fire

Fire engulfed a house in Marikina City before dawn on Friday and claimed the lives of six family members, a report on Unang Balita said.

Firemen raised the first alarm at around 2:30 a.m. after a fire was reported in the house being rented by the Gatchalian-San Juan and Alvarado families in Brgy. San Roque, GMA News' Victoria Tulad reported.

Although firemen were able to immediately put out the fire in eight minutes within their arrival, six family members were not able to leave the house in time.

The victims were identified as Gabriela Gatchalian, 81; her children Justine and Bryan; Justine's husband Allan Alvarado; and their children Samantha, 1, and Savanna Alvarado, 4.

Firemen declared the fire out at 3:09 a.m.

6 na magkaka-anak kabilang ang 2 bata, patay sa sunog sa Marikina. | via @VargasMannysen pic.twitter.com/1mmRNe61y4

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 22, 2016

Supt. Crispo Diaz, assistant regional director for operation of the Bureau of Fire Protection, said an electric fan caused a short circuit and is believed to have caused the fire.

It quickly spread since there were many combustible materials inside the house.

The residents of the house suffocated and were not able to exit the house.

Savanna's body, found at the staircase, was the one most charred. Authorities said the girl may have woken up when the fire broke out.

The elderly Gatchalian's body, found on the first floor, was also burned.

The bodies of Justine and Allan were found in the bathroom on the second floor, while those of Bryan and Samantha were retrieved on the same floor.

Diaz said the estimated cost of damage of the fire is P50,000 for the structural materials. This does not include the cost of the family's personal belongings. —KG, GMA News