A 75-YEAR-OLD woman died while three others sustained burn injuries in a residential fire that broke out in Barangay Oñate, Mandurriao District, Iloilo City, on Saturday morning, August 2, 2025.
The Iloilo City Fire Station (ICFS) responded to the structural fire on De Leon Street after it was reported at 8:57 a.m. The blaze was declared under control and fire out by 9:28 a.m., after eight fire trucks were deployed to the area.
The fire originated from the ground floor of the residence owned by the fatality, Teresita Senon Panelo, 75, whose house was totally destroyed. An adjacent residential structure owned by Magdalena S. Panelo sustained partial damage.
An initial estimate placed the cost of damage at P288,000, affecting a total of 24 square meters. Two families, consisting of five individuals, were affected by the incident.
According to investigators, the possible cause of the fire was an unattended candle.
Collected evidence will be submitted to the Fire Laboratory Service of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) National Headquarters for further analysis.
Three individuals were injured in the fire:
- Ryan S. Panelo, 49, sustained a first-degree burn on the right occipital lobe of the head
- Concheta Senon, 65, suffered second-degree burns on the nape, left arm, and frontal lobe of the head
- Gabriel S. Panelo, 12, received first-degree burns on the right shoulder and right leg
The case remains under investigation pending results from the BFP laboratory. (Leo Solinap/SunStar Philippines)