The death toll from a fire at a budget hotel in the northern Philippines climbed to 16 on Monday when one of the injured died in hospital a day after the blaze, police said.
The latest victim was a nursing graduate, the 10th fatality among a group who checked into the Bed and Breakfast hotel in Tuguegarao city ahead of professional licensing exams, said city police chief Superintendent Pedro Martirez.
The six others who died included a family who owned a motorcycle parts store beside the hotel, which firemen suspect was the origin of the blaze.
Eleven other people were injured, while 19 guests and staff were rescued unharmed.
Justice and interior ministry investigators would look into the cause of the fire and recommend possible prosecutions as well as remedial measures, Martirez said in a report.
The deputy fire marshal for the region, Senior Superintendent Sergio Soriano, said the blaze could have started at a storeroom at the shop that contained flammable materials.
“It may have stemmed from an electrical short circuit, with the sparks hitting containers of gasoline,” Soriano told DZBB radio in a telephone interview from Tuguegarao.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription