Cebu: Woman trapped in burning building praised for rescuing two dogs
A woman in Mandaue City, Cebu went viral after rescuing her two dogs from a burning building before escaping with the help of firefighters on Wednesday morning (December 10).
In a widely shared video, Ei Mei Lee Maningo is seen standing on the third-floor balcony of a three-story building occupied by H & E Industrial Inc. in Barangay Guizo, where she and other stay-in workers lived. Thick smoke billowed behind her as fire crews shouted instructions from below.
Instead of escaping immediately, Maningo first secured the safety of her pets. Bystanders on the ground urged her to throw the dogs down, catching them one by one as she lobbed them over the railing. Only after both animals were safe did she attempt to leave the building herself.
Firefighters initially struggled to reach her as available ladders were too short. Moments later, they positioned a taller ladder whose top barely reached her feet. Maningo maintained perfect balance as she climbed down calmly, despite the flames engulfing the floors below.
Witnesses briefly panicked when she disappeared from the balcony amid thick smoke, but she soon reappeared and made her escape with the assistance of fire crews. Watch the video:
The fire began past 7am on the ground floor, which served as a storage area for styro and insulation materials manufactured by the company. Fire Officer 2 Mark Anthony Yagonia, investigator from the Mandaue City Fire Office, said the blaze was likely caused by an electrical fault. An employee reported hearing a grounding sound before seeing the storage area already in flames.
Animal welfare advocates praised Maningo for her courage. The Animal Kingdom Foundation wrote, “She chose love over fear. When the fire broke out, she refused to leave her dogs behind, proving that family isn’t just who we live with, but who we fight for.” ICA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page
“She chose love over fear.” ❤️🔥
A woman in Mandaue City went viral after rescuing her two dogs from a burning building before firefighters helped her escape.
No casualties were reported, but the blaze caused up to P10 million in damage.