Update: Fire sweeps through Cubao bus terminal, roof buckles in raging blaze

From above, thick smoke erupts from a cluster of Cubao’s Araneta Center buildings. Photos from TXTFIRE PHILIPPINES

MANILA, Philippines — A fire broke out in a bus terminal on Araneta City, on Time Square Ave. in Cubao, Quezon City on Thursday, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

One of the buildings in Araneta Center, Cubao, is belching off clouds of thick smoke.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 4:46 p.m., as the fire continued to spread. The situation escalated to the 4th Alarm, and firemen were still struggling to contain the blaze.

As of 7:58, the fire was categorized as Task Force Bravo.  According to Ground Commander Ssupt. Aristotle Baaga, the age of the building was a contributing factor to the speed at which the flames spread. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

“Napakabilis po ng pag-spread ng fire. Alam naman po natin ang establishment na ito ay lumang-luma na. As far as I remember, 1974, yung dating Rustan’s. At noong 2020, na stop po ang [point to point] bus operations dito at kaya hanggang ngayon, non-operational siya ngayon except sa mangilang-ilang establishments,” said Bañaga.

(The fire spread very quickly. We know that this establishment is very old. As far as I remember, 1974, it was the old Rustan’s. In 2020, the point to point operations stopped and that is why until now, it is non-operational except for a few establishments).

According to Bañaga, the fire started at the right side of the establishment.

Bañaga declared the fire under control as of 8:20 p.m.

When asked if the rumor that the fire was started deliberately was true, Baaga just said, “no comment.”

Two persons were reported injured, one of them  a volunteer firefighter.

The BFP has not released a damage estimate. However, part of the building’s roof has caved in, firemen reported.

 /abc