Families mourn victims of Binondo building fire

Families are mourning the deaths of 11 people who were killed in a fire that hit a five-story commercial-residential building in Binondo, Manila on Friday.

Mariz Umali reported on 24 Oras that among those who died was 24-year-old Shania Nicole Arabis.

Nicole's mother and aunt from Tiaong, Quezon immediately rushed to the SRB Sanctuary  Chapels in Sta. Cruz, Manila when they learned of the news.

The victim was staying in the boarding house in the building that caught fire.

They said Nicole was kind and only wanted to help her family and siblings in their education.

“Gusto niya maayos yung aming bahay. [Sabi niya,] 'Mama kapag nakuha ko yung ano, bibigyan  kita ng paayos mo yang kusina mo,'” said her mother, Carmen.

(She wanted to fix our house. She said, "Mom when I get the money, I'll give it to you so you can fix your kitchen.")

Her aunt said they learned the bad news through Nicole's friend.

“Sabi niya, 'Tita, yung dorm po ni Nicole nasusunog. Na-trap daw po si Nicole sa  loob daw po.' Kaya kami talaga hagulgol na dali-dali kami,” said Layza  Rezaba, the victim’s aunt.

(She said, "Aunty, Nicole's dorm caught fire." She added that Nicole was trapped inside. We were in tears when we rushed over.)

They had advised Nicole to move, but she hesitated because the boarding house was close to where she worked.

“Napakasakit ng nangyari sa kanya yun. Bakit sa gayong paraan pa? Humihingi siya ng  tulong hindi namin natulungan wala kaming kaalam alam nangyayari na pala sa kanya yun. Konting panahon lang ang hinihingi namin sa kanya hindi  naman namin siya nakakapiling ng matagal eh,” said Carmen.

(What happened to her was so painful. Why did it have to be this way? She was asking for help, but we couldn't help her. We didn't even know what was happening to her. We only asked her for a little time, we didn't even  get to be with her for a long time.)

Meanwhile, Nory Millete was also heartbroken when he saw his wife's corpse in the morgue.

He owned the restaurant that burned down. He was at the market when the fire happened.

His wife, however, was sleeping on the third floor, and their other relatives were on the second floor.

Three of them died.

“Tumakbo ako kagad pero wala na. Pagdating ko nasusunog na po, wala na yung  asawa ko. Wala na, pano yan wala ako. Dapat kasama ako dun," he said,  crying.

(I rushed home right away but it was gone. When I arrived it was on fire, my wife was gone. It's gone, how can she be gone? I should have been there.)

Even the other relatives and work colleagues cried as they saw the burned bodies of the victims.

All the remains have been taken to the funeral home.

As of Friday night, only nine bodies have been identified. Relatives were expected to arrive to identify the other bodies.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, meanwhile promised to cover the cost of transporting the victims' remains to their respective provinces, as well as their burial expenses.

In a report on Balitanghali, Super Radyo dzBB’s Sam Nielsen said the information on the number of fatalities was initially from Kagawad  Nelson Ty of Barangay 289, Zone 27, who has been coordinating with the  Bureau of Fire Protection.

The BFP-National Capital Region later confirmed the information.

The initial report from the BFP-NCR said the fire at 647 Carvajal Street in  Binondo reached the first alarm at 7:28 a.m., with the second alarm declared at 8:14 a.m.

Firefighters were able to contain the blaze at 9:31 a.m. It was put out at 10:03 a.m.

The fire caused P100,000 in property damage.

The building's security guard said the fire started at a canteen where a liquified petroleum gas (LPG) tank leaked. — Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News