3 siblings die in Mandaue fire, report says

Three young boys died in a fire that razed their house in Mandaue City in Cebu province Thursday night. Radio dzBB’s Cebu affiliate reported the fire razed the house of the Punsal family in Banilad village in Mandaue City. Fire officials initially identified the fatalities as Mike Punsal, 6; and brothers Joey, 4; and Gideon, 2. Senior Fire Officer 2 Roy Garcia said the family had been living without electricity for more than a year already. Arson investigators are verifying reports that a gas lamp left unattended may have toppled and started the fire. Meanwhile, 200 families were rendered homeless after a fire of still undetermined origin razed some 50 houses in Gasak village in Meycauayan City in Bulacan Thursday night. Radio dzBB reported the fire occurred at 8 p.m., and forced the affected families to be evacuated to Meycauayan West Central School. Rash of fires Thursday night’s fire occurred less than a day after three people were burned to death in a predawn fire in Talisay City in Negros Occidental Thursday. A report on dzRH radio said the predawn fire hit the house of Jun Comita at Rizal Street in Zone 7, Pilipina Baybay area in Talisay City. Killed were Jun Comita, 13-year-old Paul Comita, and their helper identified as Letty Jimena. On Wednesday, a seven-hour fire rendered more than 2,000 families homeless in Manila’s Paco district Wednesday. The families were brought to a nearby public high school where they would stay until Saturday. - RSJ, GMANews.TV