An 84-year-old woman was trapped in a burning ancestral house in Barangay Talubangi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.

The fire broke out past 8 p.m on November 26, 2025.

The senior citizen identified as Delfa Ruiz had difficulty in mobility. She occupied a room on the second floor.

“Hindi na siya makalakad. Ang kanyang room, nasa second floor sa taas. Hindi na makaya kasi ang apoy sa entrance malaki na talaga,” according to FO2 Alfie Gravela, investigator at Kabankalan City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Firefighters responded immediately to calls for help made by residents who first saw that the house was on fire.

"Ang usok pa lang ang nakita ko. After siguro mga three minutes nang pagkuha ko ng video, sumabog siya,” Petrisol Grace, a resident, said.

It took about three hours for the fire responders to control the fire. The house was razed to the ground.

“Actually, ang apoy malaki talaga. Malaki na ang apoy pagdating ng ating team,” Gravela said.

Other members of the Ruiz household were around when the fire struck, but the flames spread quickly which reportedly prevented them from going upstairs to save the woman.

Damages reached approximately P400,000.

As of this writing, investigation is ongoing to establish the possible cause of the fire.

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to seek a statement from the Ruiz family, and is awaiting reply.