Manila  - Four children were killed Monday when fire gutted their home south of the Philippine capital, a provincial police chief said.

Senior Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian said the victims, aged 5 to 9, were sleeping when the fire broke out in their house in Padre Garcia town in Batangas province, 90 kilometres south of Manila.

Gatchalian said the father, who survived the accident, was not able to save the children because the flames spread swiftly. The mother was not at the house at the time of the accident.

Fire investigators said the blaze was cause by an oil lamp that dropped to the floor. (dpa)