SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao del Sur — A husband and wife were killed after a massive fire tore through the public market in Barangay Poblacion here late Wednesday night, destroying more than 10 establishments and raising concerns over the rapid spread of flames among closely packed semi-permanent stalls.
The fire broke out at around 11:50 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, along the highway-side portion of the public market, according to authorities.
The fatalities were identified by the Maguindanao del Sur Police Provincial Office (MSDPPO) as Bhasco and Noraisa Abdulgani, owners of BhasNor Store.
Police said the couple were reportedly asleep inside their store when the fire started.
Their remains were recovered by authorities in the early hours of Thursday after firefighting and clearing operations were conducted at the scene.
The incident turned deadly as the flames rapidly spread from the couple’s store to neighboring stalls, with at least 10 establishments reportedly destroyed.
Fire Spreads Rapidly Through Market Stalls
Shariff Aguak Fire Marshal F/Insp. Narisa Bansil said the fire was first reported at approximately 11:50 p.m.
The affected stalls were reportedly constructed largely from semi-permanent materials, allowing the fire to quickly move from one structure to another.
The store operated by the Abdulgani couple reportedly sold LPG or cooking-gas products, and authorities noted the presence of gas cylinders in the establishment.
The presence of LPG cylinders was among the factors being considered as authorities assessed how the fire spread so rapidly. However, officials have not yet established that the gas cylinders caused the fire, and the exact origin of the blaze remains under investigation.
Authorities have yet to release a final determination on what triggered the fire.
Four-Year-Old Child Reportedly Among Those Affected
Initial reports also indicated that a four-year-old child may have been caught in the incident.
Authorities were still verifying the report as of Thursday morning, including the child’s condition and whether there were other casualties or injuries.
Officials were likewise continuing to determine the full extent of the damage and the final number of establishments affected.
Investigation Underway
PMaj. Giuseppe Tamayo, Public Information Officer of the Maguindanao del Sur PPO, confirmed the identities of the two fatalities and said the couple’s remains were recovered following the fire.
The Bureau of Fire Protection-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BFP-BAR) and the Shariff Aguak Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) are expected to provide additional details regarding the incident, including the fire’s point of origin, estimated damage, and circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Investigators are expected to examine the affected structures and determine whether electrical, LPG-related, or other factors may have contributed to the blaze.
For now, authorities have yet to release a definitive cause of the fire.
The incident left a significant portion of the Shariff Aguak public market heavily damaged, while the deaths of the Abdulgani couple underscored the dangers posed by nighttime fires in densely packed commercial areas where combustible structures and flammable products can allow flames to spread within minutes.
Further updates are expected as the BFP and local authorities complete their assessment of the fire and verify reports concerning other possible casualties.