Three people died after a fire broke out at a residential area in Isabela City, Basilan.

The fatalities were a 54-year-old man, his 40-year-old sister, and the latter’s 17-year-old daughter.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire broke out at around 5 a.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024, and was put out after more than an hour.

“Actually, when the fire started at exactly 5:08 in the morning, yung Isabela po ay umuulan. Siguro, mahimbing pa ang tulog ng mga biktima that’s why they were caught (by) surprise, nasa loob ng bahay,” BFP-Isabela City Acting City Fire Marshall, Fire Senior Inspector Vincent Toribio, said.

At least five houses were razed by fire and damage reached around P850,000.

The local government has extended assistance to the five families affected and the families of those who died.

“Sa lahat ng nasunugan, nagbigay po ang city government ng food at non-food items, and doon sa namatayan, nagbigay ng financial assistance for burial and everything else,” City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) Head, Dan Salasim, said.

Fire investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire.

“Yung initial, kasi majority ng fire incidents dito sa Isabela ay electrical. So, nag-imbestiga sila ngayon. It is not yet final, under investigation pa,” Toribio said.