4 children die in early morning fire in Philippines

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA CITY, the Philippines (AA) - Four children were killed in a fire that broke out Wednesday morning at a cafeteria in the central Philippines' city of Tacloban, known for the devastation wreaked by monster storm Haiyan that left thousands dead in 2013.

The restaurant area destroyed by the blaze was managed by the parents of the four young fatalities.

ABS-CBN News quoted witnesses as saying they noticed the fire at 4.20 a.m. (2020GMT Tuesday), and the canteen was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived.

The children's parents were reported to be at the market when the blaze occurred.

It is unknown what triggered the fire.

The Philippines is notorious for deadly fires, mostly caused by lenient inspection policies on building and electrical connections.

In May last year, 74 workers were killed when fire hit a footwear factory in Valenzuela City in Manila's suburbs.

In 2001, 75 people died at Manor Hotel in Quezon City just outside of Manila, while in 1996 a fire at the city's Ozone Disco Club fire left 162 mostly young Filipinos dead.