By HANS AMANCIO
Three workers perished in a fire that struck a commercial-residential area in Sta. Cruz, Manila, early morning yesterday.
The victims, identified as Zardy Luna, 37; Angelito Jumares, 52; and Dennis Magdaet, 30, were stay-in workers at the Charipp Trading store on Blumentritt Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila, according to Superintendent Jonas Silvano, district fire Marshal of Manila-Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP),
The fire of still unknown origin started around 3:08 a.m. on the third floor of the said store owned by a certain Rosario Luna.
Arson investigators said that the victims attempted to escape through a small window of the establishment but got trapped.
The fire was raised to the second alarm by 3:20 a.m. and was declared under control at 4:07 a.m.
However, the fire intensified again at 4:30 a.m.
The fire destroyed five more commercial structures including a grocery store, a tailor shop, and a drug store before fire marshals declared the fire out at 5:50 a.m..
Damage to property was pegged at P300,000.
