Huge fire razes Tondo community

Helicopters of the Philippine Air Force pour water into huge fire gutting shanty homes in the coastal community of Isla Puting Bato ,Tondo, Manila. Around 600 families or 3,000 people were affected. —Inquirer photo/Richard A. Reyes

MANILA, Philippines — At least 2,000 families were left homeless after a massive fire tore through a slum area in Isla Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila, on Sunday morning.

According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the fire reached the first alarm after the blaze started on the second floor at one of the homes in Purok Tres. The cause of the fire was under investigation as of posting time.

Before noon, the fire reached Task Force Charlie, one of the highest fire alarm levels in the Bureau of Fire Protection. It was declared under control by 2:07 p.m.

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Photos on social media showed huge orange flames and thick smoke billowing from the slum area adjacent to the container terminal of Manila’s Port Area. Some residents were also seen fleeing their homes using boats.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Firefighters from different agencies and volunteers rushed to help extinguish the fire. At least 66 fire trucks, four fire boats, and three ambulances responded to the scene.

The Philippine Air Force also dispatched two helicopters to keep further flames at bay.

The OCD estimated a P2-million damage to the 1,000 burned houses, which were mostly made of light materials.