DAVAO CITY — Two children with disabilities died in a fire that struck a residential area in Magallanes St., this city on Saturday night.

Davao City Fire District reported that the fatalities were identified as a 14- and 11-year-old, both male. The two victims were cousins and lived in the same house.

Five persons were injured in the fire that started at 8:25 p.m. at the house of Charlene Puerto Lopez at Purok 2, Barangay 2-A, Magallanes.

Senior Inspector Frances Marie Sendrijas, spokesman of Davao Fire District, said that based on the initial count, 203 families composed of 545 individuals have been rendered homeless.

Sendrijas said about 150 houses, based on initial count as of Sunday morning, had been destroyed before firefighters declared the fire out at 1:05 a.m.

The affected residents were taken to a barangay gymnasium and were provided with assistance by the city government.

Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the fire which left an estimated cost of damage at P2.2 million.

Meanwhile, teams from the City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Health Office, Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office alongside the Office of the First Congressional District, barangay council and other frontline agencies are already onsite to attend to the needs of the affected residents.

Hot meals are currently being served and modular tents are also set up at the evacuation site.

The city has also set up a donation drop-off point for those who wish to send help and assistance for families affected by the incident.

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