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Pinoy couple among fatalities in Paris fire, family says

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Marilyn Paed-Rayray, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/overseas/02/06/20190206-abalos2.jpg"/><figcaption>Contributed photo</figcaption></figure></div>PARIS - (2nd UPDATE) A missing Filipino couple died in a fire that razed an apartment in the Rue Erlanger in the upscale 16th district of southwest Paris, France.Relatives identified the victims as Francisco and Cresencia Abalos from Mangaldan, Pangasinan.The Abalos couple lived on the 8th floor of the apartment building when the fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday. The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday confirmed that the couple was among 10 residents killed in the blaze, which investigators are treating as possible arson.The agency, in a statement, conveyed its condolences to the couple&#x27;s family.Caroline and Lovie Oriendo, churchmates of the victims, rushed to the scene when they heard the news.“Tinawagan kami ng anak ng mag-asawang Abalos dahil hindi niya makontak ang kaniyang mga magulang. Kaya dali-dali kaming nagpunta dito,&quot; they said.(The daughter of the Abalos couple called us because she couldn&#x27;t contact her parents so we rushed here.)The couple was survived by their 3 children, including their daughter Richelle Abalos, who lives in Paris.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/overseas/02/06/20190206-fire.jpg"/><figcaption>A residential building is engulfed in flames in Paris, France, Feburary 5, 2019 in this image obtained from social media. B. Moser/Brigade des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris (BSPP) via Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>Four Filipinos, who also resided in the building, were affected by the incident. They are Norma Batara and her niece Sherilyn Batag and couple Ferdinand and Mary Grace Alcozer.Batara and Batag, who hail from Isabela, stayed on the third floor of the building and managed to escape the fire.&quot;Nung nakababa at makalabas na kami ng building, tumingin ako sa taas, nakita ko usok at apoy tapos &#x27;yung mga tao nakadungaw sa bintana,&quot; Batag told ABS-CBN News.(When we were able to leave the building, I looked up and saw smoke and fire, and people looking out their windows.)Batara couldn&#x27;t believe that everything happened so quickly. “Yung mag-asawa laging pumapasok sa isip ko dahil araw-araw kaming nagkikita,” she said.(I was worried about the couple because we saw each other every day.)A 40-year-old woman with a history of psychological problems has been held for questioning.The suspected arsonist had just been released from a psychiatric ward, the Paris prosecutor said Wednesday.She was &quot;intoxicated when detained and attempting to set fire to a car,&quot; police said.The woman had already been in trouble with police, including once for causing damage by fire, but she was never convicted.She had repeated run-ins with a neighbor, who is a fireman, and was again involved in a dispute with him just before the fire broke out, police said.Authorities considered the blaze as the most deadly in the capital since 2005. A special Mass of remembrance for the victims was held Wednesday at the nearby Saint-François-de-Molitor Catholic church. - with a report from Agence France-Presse

PARIS - (2nd UPDATE) A missing Filipino couple died in a fire that razed an apartment in the Rue Erlanger in the upscale 16th district of southwest Paris, France.

PARIS - (2nd UPDATE) A missing Filipino couple died in a fire that razed an apartment in the Rue Erlanger in the upscale 16th district of southwest Paris, France.

Pinoy couple among fatalities in Paris fire, family says

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Pinoy couple among fatalities in Paris fire, family says

Marilyn Paed-Rayray,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 07, 2019 03:30 AM PHT

|

Updated Feb 07, 2019 10:27 PM PHT

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Paris

France

Filipinos in Europe

Pangasinan

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