Six children among 15 dead in Philippines fire

A pre-dawn fire in the southern Philippines raced through public market stalls, killing 15 vendors, including six children.

Thirteen other vendors were injured in the three-hour blaze in Zamboanga city, a major port about 860 kilometers south of Manila.

Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro said it may have started when sparks from low-slung electric post cables set fire to sidewalk stall umbrellas then ignited stacks of used clothing being sold at the city market.

The victims were clothes vendors who slept at their stalls, including at least six children, so they could be up early for the weekend market that usually draws sizable crowds, said police investigator Rafael Salcedo.