Family of 6 dead in Marikina fire

MANILA, Philippines - A family of six died when a fire hit their two-story house in Marikina City before dawn yesterday.

City fire marshal Superintendent Edwin Vargas identified the fatalities as Gabriela Gatchalian and her relatives Justin and Bryan San Juan, and Samantha, Savanna and Allan Alvarado.

Vargas said the victims were trapped and killed when a fire broke out on the ground floor of their house along E. dela Paz street in Barangay San Roque at past 2 a.m.

Vargas said the victims died of suffocation.

Arson investigators have yet to establish the cause of the fire, which reached the first alarm and was declared out after 42 minutes.