3 killed, 3 hurt in predawn Makati fire

At least three women were reported killed while three others were injured in a fire that hit a transient house in Makati City before dawn Friday.

The fire occurred at Santillan Street in Barangay Pio del Pilar in Makati City, radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported.

It reached the third alarm before it was put out at about 3:28 a.m., or 30 minutes after it started.

One of the fatalities was said to have come from Baguio City to donate a kidney to her son. It was not immediately clear if the son was among those killed or hurt.

A second fatality was said to have accompanied the mother to Manila to assist her should she undergo the kidney donation procedure.

Of the three injured, one was brought to the Ospital ng Makati while two were rushed to the Makati Medical Center.

Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire, dzBB's Vargas said in a separate report on GMA News TV's "News TV Live."



Grills

A separate report by GMA News' Jay Sabale on GMA News TV's "News to Go" said the stairs to be used as a fire escape was already on fire.

Iron grills at the windows prevented would-be rescuers from getting to the victims, the report added.

"Nagsimula ang apoy galing sa bintana na. Sabi namin sa babae, di namin kayo matutulungan kasi bintana ninyo may bakal... Sabi ko Ma'am pasensya na talaga kayo," said witness James Balandang.

The report said the owner of the house theorized an electrical short circuit could have caused the fire.  — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News