2 boys killed in Lipa City fire

Two boys, aged 4 and 3, died after fire gutted their home in Lipa City, Batangas on Saturday.

Authorities identified the victims as Xander Lalucis, 4 and his brother, Divon, 3, residents of Barangay Dos.

The local fire bureau said fire broke out on the second floor of the victims' home at around 11:40 a.m.

A radio dzBB report said the boys' mother, Susan, was not at home when the fire broke out. She left the boys to go to the public market.

Firemen suspect that the fire was ignited by a short circuit at the victims' home.

The fire gutted at least 10 houses and damaged two fire trucks before it was put out at around 1:40 p.m.

The boys' charred bodies were recovered during mopping up operations. —reports from Sam Nielsen and Onofre Tenorio/ALG, GMA News