CEBU CITY (Updated, 12:09 p.m.) -- Four people, including a retired airline official, were killed when a fire broke out in a 15-door apartment building in this city early Thursday.
Fire Investigator Antonio Gonzales identified the victims as Rolando Caberte, 53, a retired official of the Philippine Airlines, his daughter Ma. Charmaine, 35, and grandson Miguel Paolo. Caberte’s househelp, Alma dela Torre, 25, was also dead.
The fire, which was reported at 3:37 a.m. at Don Pedro Rodriguez St., Barangay Capitol Site, broke out in one of the units in the ground floor, the Cebu City Fire Department said.
The charred bodies of the victims were recovered shortly after fire marshals put out the fire. The fire was declared under control at 4:21 a.m.
Gonzales placed the damage at P3.25 million.
The fire department said the fire reached third alarm.
Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire. (With Jovy Taghoy-Gerodias of Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)