Fire guts up to 15 houses in Manila

MANILA, Philippines—Roughly P750,000-worth of properties was destroyed after a residential area in Sampaloc, Manila was hit by fire, an official from the Manila Fire District said Friday.

Fire Officer 1 Louie Ebio said the blaze that started at 10:24 a.m. along Visayan Avenue, Balic Balic in Sampaloc, Manila, reached fourth alarm before it was put out by firefighters at 11:44 a.m.

Ten to 15 houses “mostly made of light materials” were gutted by the fire, he said.

While the cause of the blaze is still being investigated, Ebio said the fire originated from the house of a certain Generosa Bagat at 871 Gerardo Street in Balic Balic, Sampaloc.

Melchor Balukatin who sustained minor abrasion wounds in his legs but no one was seriously injured, Ebio said.