A pre-dawn fire in the southern Philippines raced through public market stalls on Saturday, killing 15 people.
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Sparks from low-hanging electric cables set fire to stall umbrellas then set ablaze stacks of used clothing sold at the market, Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro said, according to the Associated Press (AP). However, Bureau of Fire investigators would decide whether officers in charge of fire safety could be held legally responsible, Salcedo said.
Hussin Sangkula, chairman of Zone 1, said they were roving the area when fire alert was raised.
The blaze has been extinguished, GMA quoted a fire chief as saying.
Firefighters had difficulties in penetrating the interior portion as the fire had nearly engulfed almost the entire area, Zabala said. Dominador Zabala Jr. said in a radio interview.
About 350 stalls were scorched and an adjacent three-story commercial building was partially damaged.
Witnesses said among the charred bodies were a mother hugging her child.
“Some of the injured victims survived by passing through the sewerage out from the fire”, Apolinario said.
They were Alvin Bete, 14; Annang Erilis, 45; Nurmina Jamiri, 18; Yasser Jamiri, 29; Almudzra Hamis, 31; Midzfar Hamis, 7; Farhana Hamis, 9; and Bennaser Hamis, 32.
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Witnesses told the police that an electrical post accidentally sparked and ignited clothing stock in a stall.
