6 family members killed, 2 hurt in Quezon fire
LUCENA CITY—Six family members died and two others were injured early Saturday after they were trapped inside their burning house in Candelaria town in Quezon province.
In a report, the Quezon police identified the fatalities as Delia Cruzat, 69, along with her grandchildren Darline Joy, 21; Princess Joy, 16; Kylie Joy, 9; and Crissa Joy, 18, all surnamed Quirrez; and Tristan Jino Pola, 10.Two other family members, identified as Edna Cruzat, 37, and Vangie Quirrez, 48, were injured during the blaze.
The fire broke out at about 1 a.m. inside the house of the victims in a residential area in Barangay Masalukot 2 and was put off around 2:30 a.m. The blaze did not spread to other houses in the area.
The police said the fire was discovered by a neighbor of the victims who “saw the fatalities trapped inside the house, shouting and seeking for help.”
The injured were taken to Peter Paul Hospital Candelaria for treatment.
In a phone interview, Melchor Macuha, Candelaria fire station arson investigator, described the house as two-story concrete with wooden floors and walls.
The fire station and the victim’s house had only a half-kilometer distance, according to Macuha.
“We did not receive any phone calls or text messages that there was an ongoing fire. A passing tricycle driver was the one who notified us. Since it was still dark, there was only dark smoke on the horizon,” he explained.
An investigation was ongoing to determine the cause of the fire and the resulting property damage, fire authorities said.
‘Died from suffocation’
However, citing their initial findings, Macuha said the fatalities “probably died from suffocation.” He did not provide further details.
From the photos of the victims that have spread on social media, the bodies of the fatalities were not charred and their clothes were not burned.
Melith Malaluan Antone, a close family friend of the victims, said she was in Valenzuela City when she read the news.“I was shocked,” she said in an online interview.
She said Vangie, who managed to escape by jumping out of the window, was the mother of the four fatalities surnamed Quirrez. The father of the Quirrez victims is currently working overseas as a seaman, she added.
She said Pola was also Delia’s grandson from another daughter, a school teacher.
“The boy used to spend the night at his grandmother’s house. He was the only son,” another source from Candelaria told the Inquirer, who said the boy’s father is a delivery rider.On his Facebook page, Candelaria Mayor George Suayan said the municipal government “extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved family.”
He said may their prayers and assistance help alleviate the sorrows of the victim’s families. INQ
