PASAY CITY, Philippines — A residential fire in Pasay City turned deadly Friday afternoon after four people, including a 3-year-old child, were trapped inside a burning home, authorities said.
The blaze broke out at around 1 p.m. on August 21 along Tengco Street in Barangay 107 and rapidly spread to nearby houses, including parts of neighboring Barangay 106. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) raised the incident to the second alarm as firefighters battled the flames. The fire was declared under control at around 3:45 p.m. and was subsequently put out.
The four victims were reportedly unable to escape their home in time. According to reports, firefighters later recovered the bodies during clearing operations after portions of the structure collapsed.
A particularly heartbreaking detail emerged during the recovery operation: two of the victims were found embracing each other, with one believed to be the 3-year-old child.
Possible LPG explosion being investigated
Authorities are investigating what triggered the fire.
Initial information from the BFP pointed to a possible exploding LPG tank as the trigger of the blaze. However, investigators have yet to make a final determination on the exact cause, meaning the LPG theory should still be treated as preliminary.
The flames spread quickly because several houses in the area were reportedly made of light materials, allowing the fire to move rapidly from one structure to another.
Four others injured, dozens of families affected
The deadly incident also left at least four people injured, with reports indicating burns and other injuries among residents.
The number of families affected varies slightly among initial reports. GMA News reported that around 30 families were affected, while Bombo Radyo’s initial account cited approximately 20 families. The broader figure of about 30 affected families is also consistent with the report published by The Philippine Star.
Residents and firefighters also worked together during the emergency response, including efforts to replenish water supplies for responding fire trucks as the firefighting operation continued. Residents were likewise seen evacuating pets as the fire spread.
Grim recovery operation
The recovery of the victims proved difficult because part of the structure collapsed during the incident.
Bombo Radyo reported that firefighters had to conduct digging operations in areas where missing residents were last seen. The Philippine Star separately reported that the four victims were recovered from the first floor of their home after the structure collapsed.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers faced by families living in densely packed residential communities, where fires can spread quickly when structures are built close together and from combustible materials.
For now, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the blaze, including the suspected LPG involvement and the full extent of property damage.
The identities of the victims and the final official determination of the fire’s cause had not been fully released in the reports reviewed for this story.
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