A 13-year-old boy was killed in a dawn fire that broke out in Sitio Lower Galilee, Barangay Duljo Fatima, Cebu City.

The fire occurred while residents were fast asleep past 3 a.m. on January 5, 2025.

The fire razed a total of 32 houses to the ground.

A few residents climbed at the roof of an establishment to escape the blaze. However, a 13-year-old boy identified as Rechford Cahan was trapped inside the burning house.

It was learned that the boy was an adopted child of the owner of the house where the fire started reportedly. 

The Department of Social Welfare and Services of Cebu City has assisted the boy's family with funeral expenses, and handed over financial assistance to the fire victims.

The Cebu City Fire Office in its ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the fire confirmed that the incident left behind damages worth approximately P900,000.

Meanwhile, the Local Government Unit of Cebu City will negotiate with the landowner for the rebuilding of affected residents' houses.