Quezon house fire leaves 6 dead

MANILA, Philippines — Six members of a family died in a fire that destroyed their house in Barangay Masalukot 1 in Candelaria, Quezon early yesterday.

Delia Cruzat, 69; and her grandchildren Darline Joy Quirrez, 21; Crissa Joy Quirrez, 18; Priscess Joy Quirrez, 16; Tristan Jino Pola, 10, and Kylie Joy Quirrez, 9, were trapped in their house when the fire struck at around 2:30 a.m., Fire Officer 3 Melchor Macuha of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Candelaria said.

Vangie Quirrez, 48, and Edna Cruzat, 37, were injured.

A neighbor of the fatalities said she saw the house on fire and the victims shouting for help.

An investigation is ongoing. ­

In Cebu City on Thursday, four children aged 10, six, one and 11 months were killed in a fire that razed their house while they were sleeping.

The parents of three of the victims reportedly went out early to sell food near their home when the fire struck.

Meanwhile, in Davao City, three children drowned while swimming in a river in Barangay Mandug on Friday.

The bodies of Tanie Sanico, 13; Jerick Redulla, 12, and Kian Bituin, 12, were recovered by members of the 911 emergency response unit of the city government.

The victims, who were students at the Buhangin Central Elementary School, reportedly cut their classes to go swimming.

Witnesses were quoted in radio reports as saying that the three were swept away by the strong current when the water level in the river suddenly rose. — John Unson, Ed Amoroso