(UPDATE) Koronadal fire kills 1, turns to ashes old 2-story house

KORONADAL CITY - A fire of unknown origin gutted down an old two-story wooden boarding house at the corner Balmores and Dizon Streets, Barangay Gen. Paulino Santos at about 4:45 a.m.Efraim Manuel, 34 years old, a culinary graduate and works at a nearby restaurant was charred to death, according to his relativeJudeo Moso, one of the boarders.Manuel's friends were shocked to learn of the incident and posted on his FB accounts Ephraim Bustamante Manuel messages of condolence.Moso told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida Koronadal that Manuel was drunk and the fire started in his room at the second floor.Responding fire fighters found the charred remains of Manuel in a sitting position inside his roomat the second floor old house built in 1955.A certain Merlina Manuel, the victim's relative, was slightly injured.Radyo Bida learned from neighbors and Manuel's relatives that his wife left for Manila the day before the fire.Relatives also said that Manuel has attended a party at a neighbor's house before he went upstairs to sleep Tuesday night.