Tragedy Strikes Family in Philippines as Smoke Claims Lives After New Year Celebration

A man, his 19-year-old wife, and their 5-month-old infant died in a fire that destroyed their rented home in the Philippines on Saturday. The fire protection office announced that the victims suffocated from smoke and were found in the bathroom of their house in the Caloocan suburb of Manila. The fire broke out four hours after Filipinos celebrated the New Year with fireworks, although the celebrations were not as loud as in previous years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigators stated that the fire was not related to the New Year celebrations. In the past, fires have sparked during New Year's Eve in the Philippines due to stray fireworks or firecrackers, which have been banned in many areas of the country. The Department of Health reported that only 85 people were injured from fireworks between December 21 and January 1, a decrease of 11% compared to last year, which saw 96 cases. The quieter celebrations coincided with the government's announcement of increased COVID-19 restrictions starting January 3 amid a rise in cases.