Four family members died in a recent fire that struck a home in Barangay San Isidro, located in the La Paz district of Iloilo City.

Police identified the fatalities as 40-year-old Evangeline Gerafusco, along her 64-year-old mother Elvira Avelino, 15-year-old son Richard, and 40-year-old aunt Christina Dolente. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Jayvee Avelino, 38-year-old Carla Avelino, and her two sons eight-year-old Jim Carlo and nine-year-old Salvador James, are confined at the St. Paul’s Hospital in the City Proper district, where they are being treated for injuries.

According to Iloilo City Fire Marshal, Chief Inspector Christopher Regencia, a fire call was received around 4:00 a.m., when the victims were asleep and Gerafusco’s husband, Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Ruchard Gerafusco, Sr., was on duty.

“The fire easily burned the entire house,” Regencia pointed out.

He cited overloaded electricity as the possible cause of the incident.

“Maybe nag-overload ang electricity kasi maraming naka-on na appliances (Maybe there was an overload of electricity because many appliances were left on),” the fire marshal noted.

Reports claimed neighbors were awakened by the presence of thick smoke.

Damages to the Gerafusco home are estimated to be around P150,000./WDJ