BFP: 10 dead in Muntinlupa fire

Ten individuals were confirmed dead in a fire that hit a residential area in Barangay Putatan in Muntinlupa City on Sunday morning, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, City Fire Marshal Fire Superintendent Eugene Briones said that the casualties have increased to ten from the seven reported earlier.

“Actually, ‘yung nanay, nakayakap sa kanyang five-month old na bata… ‘Yung tatlo naman na malalaking lalaki, magkakasama sila doon sa isang side na malapit sa gilid na ng bahay. Siguro nag-attempt sila na makalabas, hindi magawa kasi may grills nga ang bahay,” he said.

(Actually, the mother was found hugging her five-month-old child...Three big guys were also found together on one side. Maybe they tried to get out, but couldn't because the house had grills.)

“May isang matanda na sa CR namin natagpuan at nakasuksok ang ulo niya sa ilalim ng lababo. Siguro para maiwasan din ang usok dahil ‘yan naman talaga ang papatay sa atin,” he added.

(We found an old person in a CR with their head stuck under the sink. Maybe they were trying to avoid the smoke because that’s really what would kill us.)

Briones said the cadavers were found whole and not burnt.

He also earlier said that the fatalities who were related to each other were found on the ground floor and the second floor of the house, according to a report by Rod Vega on Super Radyo dzBB.

In a recent information, the BFP said a one-storey house with an adjacent two-storey residential structure was affected. All the ten fatalities from three families reside there.

The estimated cost of damage was around P500,000.

According to the BFP National Capital Region public information office, the fire broke out in a residential area on Larva Street, Bruger Subdivision in Barangay Putatan at 8:56 a.m. and reached the first alarm at 9:02 a.m.

It was placed under control at 9:25 a.m., and was declared fire out at 10:25 a.m.

“Actually, isang bahay lang ang involved natin dito na dalawang palapag. Medyo malaki po ang bahay. ‘Yun nga po, meron tayong mga casualty, ayun ang mahirap doon. Isang pamilya ang nadamay dito, magkakapamilya,” Briones said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(Actually, only one house that has two floors was involved in the fire. The house is quite big. We have casualties, that's what's difficult here. They were a family.)

Briones said there were 10 individuals residing in the affected house. Officials are still searching for the individual still reported missing.

Briones said that based on the initial report, the victims might not have been able to escape the burning house as they were still asleep during the incident.

The BFP is still investigating the possible cause of the fire.

Personnel from the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) were already present in the area. —KG/BM, GMA Integrated News