Superintendent Pedro Martirez, chief of the Tuguegarao City Police, said nine male nursing graduates from the University of La Sallete in Isabela City were recovered along with six others, including a couple who owns one of the destroyed buildings and their two grandchildren. 

"All the victims were trapped in the two buildings. They were burned beyond recognition. Most of the victims were already identified through their relatives and companions", said Martirez. 

In the case of the nursing graduates, Martirez said they are now being identified by the teacher-in-charge of their school and some of their classmates who survived the incident. 

Senior Superintendent Mao Aplasca, director of the Cagayan Provincial Police Office, said earlier that the blaze started at around 1:00 AM (local time) and arson investigators are currently investigating to determine the cause of the blaze and from what area of the building it started.