Philippine residential fire leaves four children dead and two injured

MANILA (Xinhua): Four children, including an 11-month-old baby boy, died and two others were injured in a fire that hit a residential area in Cebu City in the central Philippines early on Thursday, authorities said.

The Cebu City Command Center said the fire broke out at 5:51 a.m. local time. Firefighters declared the fire out around 6:15 a.m.

An uncle of the children told authorities that the four victims, aged 11, six, one and 11 months, were asleep and trapped on their house's second floor. Those injured were a 30-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, also family members.

Authorities said at least seven houses were gutted in the fire.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. - Xinhua