There was “no exit” from the house blaze that killed 15 persons including a three-year-old child in Tandang Sora, Quezon City early Thursday, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.
In Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras,” the BFP said that the house, which operated as a T-shirt printing facility without proper permits, was a “fire trap.” For one, there was no open space as the machines used for printing created divisions in the house.
“Wala pong exit. They’re not supposed to do the printing kasi highly flammable ang tela,” said BFP-NCR Regional Director Chief Superintendent Nahum Tarroza.
(There’s no exit. They’re not supposed to do printing because cloth is highly flammable.)
“’Pag ang tela nasunog ‘yan, ‘yung smoke na nilalabas talagang maitim, toxic po yun. Minutes lang wala ka nang buhay doon,” he said.
(When cloth burns, it emits toxic smoke. It would only take minutes to suffocate.)
Fifteen people, including the owner, died in the incident that occurred in the Pleasant View Subdivision in Barangay Tandang Sora at 5:30 a.m.
Fire officials responded to the fire after 14 minutes and it was declared under control at 6:28 a.m. Three people survived, including the owner’s helper, Maria Fe Parle.
Parle recalled that her employers woke them up amid the fire, and led them to the owner’s room where the only window not barred by grills was located.
“Wala po talagang tatakbuhan…Malakas na po ‘yung usok. Di na kaya ‘yung maghinga sa loob,” she said.
(There was nowhere to run to. We were suffocating because of the smoke.)
The BFP said the T-shirt printing business should have not been operating as it has no mayor’s permit, business permit, or fire safety inspection certificate.
The only permit it had was from the barangay.
“Kami po nagba-base rin kami sa endorsement or referral ng homeowners kasi sila nakakaalam dito,” said Barangay Chairperson Maru Ulanday.
(We’re just basing the endorsements on the referral of the homeowners association.)
The homeowners association said they do not have endorsements for 2023.
At a press briefing, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said they discovered several violations.
“Maraming misdeclaration. Misdeclaration on the area of the business…of the number of employees…of the business activity,” she said.
(They had a lot of misdeclarations. Misdeclaration on the area of their business, number of employees, and business activity.)
For their part, the bereaved families of three of the fire victims appealed for help to bring home their loved ones’ remains to Occidental Mindoro.
“Lumuwas po sila kasi katulad ni Mia, walang kakayahan magulang na mag-aral siya. Si Carmina naman maraming kapatid, siya lang inaasahan. Lalo na si Teresa, siya ang breadwinner ng pamilya,” a relative said.
(Mia went left their hometown because her family could not send her to school. Carmina had a lot of siblings and she was the only one they could depend on. Teresa was the breadwinner of her family.) — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News
