3 killed in Batangas fire

Three people, including two children, were killed a fire in Lian town in Batangas on Wednesday morning, an official said.

In a phone interview, Senior Inspector Philip Aguilar, Lian police officer-in-charge, said the fire, which started at 4:30 a.m. and lasted for about five hours, also left six people injured and another victim comatose.

The fire reached fifth alarm before it was declared fire out by 9 a.m.

According to Aguilar, all the casualties were members of the family that owns the building, which houses a grocery store at the ground floor, a stockroom, and residential rooms in the third and fourth floors.

Among those killed was Analyna Jonson, wife of the building's owner, and two young relatives staying with them -- Lovely Batuto, 12, and her sibling, Jaycee, aged nine.

He said Jonson died from the head injury that she incurred when she jumped off the building upon seeing the growing fire.

The children, meanwhile, were found in the bedroom on the third floor.

"May tatlo po doon na empleyada na stay-in, naka-survive 'yung mga 'yun. Out of danger na sila. Pero maliban du'n, 'yung pito [na injured], magkakamag-anak, du'n sila nakatira," he said.

Initial investigation showed that the fire started because of faulty electrical wiring, Aguilar said.

"Hindi naman nila (Bureau of Fire Protection) in-elaborate kung anong klase, sa ilaw ba o sa electric fan... Nagsimula sa ground floor kung saan nandoon 'yung mga paninda nila, mabilis kumalat hanggang sa fourth floor," he said.

He also said those who survived the fire were able to get out through a fire exit at the side of the building, though it was made of wood.

Authorities were still determining the estimated damage as the investigation continues. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KBK, GMA News