15 reported dead as fire hits residential area in Quezon City

Fifteen people were reportedly killed after fire broke out in an establishment located in a subdivision in Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City early Thursday morning.

Citing BFP-National Capital Region director Fire Chief Superintendent Nahum Taroza, Super Radyo dzBB's Allan Gatus reported on Dobol B TV that there were three survivors from the incident.

The fatalities were still being identified by personnel of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Scene of Crime Operations (SOCO) division, the report said.

In an incident report, the BFP said the fire started at around 5:30 a.m. and was raised to the first alarm at 5:44 a.m.

The fire was declared under control at 6:28 a.m. and “fire out” by 8:04 a.m.

Resident Mel Molina said he helped one victim, who told them that many people were left inside the affected area.

“Diyan kanina, tumalon daw siya tapos sabi niya nandon ang anak niya at misis niya. Siya lang ang nakaligtas. Tinulungan namin, dinala namin sa ambulansya… May mga naiwan daw, marami daw sila,” Molina told Gatus in an interview.

(He jumped out and said his child and wife were still inside. He was the only one to get out. We helped him and took him to the ambulance... He said there were many people left inside.)

A report by Maki Pulido on Balitanghali said the establishment that burned was a house that was also being used for a T-shirt printing business.

Among the victims were workers of the printing company; a three-year-old girl and her mother, the printing company's supervisor; and the owner of the printing business.

Taroza was quoted as saying in the Balitanghali report that the printing company had neither a business nor a mayor's permit. He also said the company had a pending application with the BFP but only for a small office and not for a printing business. 

Officials from Barangay Tandang Sora said the company was given a barangay permit because it was endorsed by the subdivision's homeowners' association. The association, however, said the endorsement was only for last year. —Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA Integrated News