Elderly woman, 5 grandchildren die in Quezon town fire
CANDELARIA, Quezon – A sexagenarian and her five grandchildren early yesterday morning were killed while two others were injured in a fire that razed their house in Ramos St, Bgy. Masalukot 1, this town.
Candelaria police chief Lt. Col. Bryan Merino identified the fatalities as Delia Corales Cruzat, 69, and her grandchildren Darline Joy, 21, Crissa Joy, 18, Princess Joy, 16, and Kylie Joy, 9, all surnamed Crusat Quirrez; and Tristan Jino Cruzat Pola, 10.
The injured were Delia’s nieces Vangie Quirrez, 48, and Edna Cruzat, 37.
Neighbor Anica Corales said she was awakened by the victims cry for help around 1 a.m. yesterday.
She said she saw the house of the victims on fire. She immediately sought for help.
An investigation showed the fire started from the ground floor of the victims’ house due to faulty electrical wiring.
The victims, who were sleeping on the sleeping floor, tried to escape from the raging blaze but were trapped inside the house..
“Dahil mainit na sa hagdan dulot ng kumalat na apoy kung kaya hindi na nakababa ang mga biktima hanggang sa na-suffocate sila,” Merino said.
The fire was put under control at 2:30 a.m. on the same day.
It was learned that the parents of the five kids are working abroad and the children were left under the care of their grandmother.
