Fire traps, kills seven family members in Philippines
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-28 14:19

An early morning fire on Monday trapped and killed seven members of a family _ four of them youngsters _ and razed their home near Manila, officials said.

Six of the victims were sleeping on the second floor and one was downstairs in the cramped house in Cavite province's Imus town, 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Manila, when the fire broke out.

Those trapped inside shouted for help, unable to escape because the windows had steel grills to deter robbers, Lumaban said.

The dead included a couple, their four children ages 12-17 and an adult relative, Lumaban said.

He said the mother, Virginia Barnes, was on the ground floor and was probably cooking breakfast when neighbors heard an explosion, probably from a cooking gas tank, which may have injured or killed the woman immediately.

Her body was the only one recognizable and the others were burned beyond recognition, Lumaban said.

Firefighters put out the blaze within 30 minutes but the small house was destroyed, he said.

Fire safety code violations are common in the Philippines, where many buildings lack fire alarm systems, sprinklers or adequate fire exits.