SEXAGENARIAN, 5 GRANDCHILDREN DIE IN QUEZON TOWN FIRE

A 69-YEAR-OLD woman and her five grandchildren early Saturday morning died while two others were injured in a fire that destroyed their house in Candelaria, Quezon.

Candelaria police chief Lt. Col. Bryan Merino identified the fatalities as Delia Corales Cruzat, 69, and her grandchildren Darline Joy, 21, Crissa Joy, 18, Princess Joy, 16, and Kylie Joy, 9, all surnamed Crusat Quirrez; and Tristan Jino Cruzat Pola, 10, all residents of Ramos St, Bgy. Masalukot 1, Candelaria town.

The injured were Delia’s nieces Vangie Quirrez, 48, and Edna Cruzat, 37.

According to the victims’ neighbor, Anica Corales, she was awakened by the victims loud cry for help around 1 a.m. Saturday.

She immediately checked and saw the house of the victims on fire.

Corales immediately sought for help.

An investigation showed the fire started from the ground floor of the victims’ house due to faulty electrical wiring.

The victims, who were sleeping on the sleeping floor, tried to escape but were trapped by the raging blaze inside the house..

“Dahil mainit na sa hagdan dulot ng kumalat na apoy kung kaya hindi na nakababa ang mga biktima hanggang sa na-suffocate sila,” Merino said.

The fire was put under control at 2:30 a.m. on the same day.

Police said the parents of the five minors are working abroad and the children were left under the care of their grandma.