In the early hours of Thursday, a devastating fire engulfed a three-story residential structure in the San Isidro Galas neighborhood of Quezon City, part of the Philippines’ capital region. The rapid blaze claimed the lives of eight individuals and left at least one person injured.
The inferno erupted just past midnight in a primarily wooden building as occupants were asleep, according to local authorities. Emergency services responded quickly, but the fire destroyed the property within an hour, prompting an ongoing investigation into the cause.
Senior fire officer Rolando Valeña shared that two victims were located on the ground floor while the remains of six others were discovered on the second level, the apparent starting point of the fire. This information was derived from witness accounts.
Among the survivors was Beverly Salvador, 33, who detailed a harrowing escape for herself, her husband, and their two children. As the blaze and overpowering smoke engulfed their third-floor room, they managed to crawl through a small bathroom window to safety, landing on the roof of a nearby house.
“I opened our door and saw that the corridor and the stairway going down were already in flames,” recounted Salvador, adding that they sought an alternative escape route after experiencing the rapid spread of flames. The tragedy struck a personal chord as she mourned the loss of two long-time family friends who perished on the second floor.
The tragic incident occurred just days before the start of March, recognized in the Philippines as fire-prevention month. This annual period sees heightened governmental efforts to educate the public on fire risks and safety practices as preparations begin for the intense summer heat.
Many past fire-related fatalities have been linked to inadequate enforcement of safety laws, overcrowding, and flawed architectural designs in the Philippines. A notable past incident was the 1996 Quezon City nightclub fire, which took the lives of 162 people, predominantly students. The emergency exit had been obstructed by a newly constructed adjacent building, exemplifying the dangers associated with lackadaisical safety measures.