A safety officer died a hero after rescuing several call center staff before he was engulfed in flames when a fire broke out at the NCCC Mall in Davao City. The blaze, which started on the fourth floor on Dec 23, killed 38 people, ABS-CBN reported.
Melvin Gaa, a member of the NCCC Emergency Action Team, saved several staff at Research Now SSI and ferried them to safety on the ground floor, according to The Philippine Star.
“We offer his family our sympathies and recognize Melvin’s sacrifice,” said Thea Padua, a spokesperson for the NCCC Mall.
“After he rescued the call center staff, he went back in the mall to try to save more people,” Padua added.
The Philippine Bureau of Fire Protection is still investigating the cause of the fire.