A 4-month-old baby boy was killed in a fire that engulfed a house in Barangay Ubujan, Tagbilaran City on February 24, 2024.
The victim was identified as Prince Nikola Alcala, who was left alone in the house by his parents, who were both working at the time of the incident.
The fire started at around 12:48 p.m. at the house owned by Romeo Bantugan Sr., located at Gondong Street, Purok 2, Ubujan District. The fire quickly spread to the entire house, which was made of light materials.
The fire was raised to first alarm and firefighters arrived at the scene at 12:51 p.m. They were able to put out the fire after 15 minutes, but it was too late to save the baby.
The fire caused an estimated damage of 37,500 pesos and affected one family. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but authorities suspect that it was due to faulty electrical wiring or an unattended appliance.
Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap confirmed the incident and expressed her condolences to the bereaved family. She also reminded the public to check their electrical connections and appliances regularly and not to leave children unattended at home.
She urged Tagbilaran residents to be vigilant and alert, especially during the dry season, when fire incidents tend to increase.