A 13-year-old girl died in a fire that destroyed a house in Lipa City.
Authorities suspect that a candle left burning caused the blaze.
Around 3 a.m. on August 21, 2024, a fire broke out in a house on Purok 2, Barangay San Carlos, Lipa City, Batangas.
Residents worked together quickly to extinguish the flames.
"Kasi may sumisigaw po na, 'Tulong! Tulong! May sunog! May sunog!' Nagulat po [ako], kaya po'y lumabas po ako. Noong nakita ko, kumuha agad ako ng tubig," Edgar Gelindon, a resident, said.
"Maraming mapapahamak kaya inapula agad namin ang apoy," Joey Espinili, another resident, added.
Investigation revealed that the fire started in a bedroom.
Authorities believe that a candle left burning caused the blaze.
"Ito kasing bahay na 'to ay naputulan ng ilaw. So, gumagamit na lang sila ng kandila. Possible po, pissible na natumba 'yung kandila," SFO3 Keith Richard Honoridez from the Lipa City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.
A 13-year-old girl sleeping in the room died in the fire. Authorities believe she may have suffocated due to the thick smoke.
"Before naganap 'yung sunog, 'yung nanay ay umalis kasi bumili ng tinapay accordingly. Noong pagdating niya ay unfortunately, ay nasunog na 'yung bahay," Honoridez said.
"Yung tatay ay maagang umalis kasi nga ay tricycle driver," Honoridez added.
No neighboring houses were affected by the fire.
The investigation continues as of this writing.
Authorities advise against leaving burning candles unattended in homes to prevent such incidents.
