2 elders die in Manila fire

MANILA, Philippines—Two elders were killed, and two others were injured when fire gutted a residential area in Manila on Christmas Eve, a city fire officer said.

Senior Fire Officer 3 John Joseph Jaligue, arson investigator of Manila-Bureau of Fire Protection, identified the fatalities as Rosario Garicia, 98 and Rodolfo Castro, 61.

They were said to have been trapped as fire blazed through roughly 50 houses along Sapanta Street in Singalong, Manila at 12:54 a.m., rendering about a hundred families homeless on Christmas Eve.

A radio report said the fatalities were both blind.

Injured, meanwhile, were identified as Roger Castaneda, village chief, and one Ben Venido Bernardo.

The fire reached fifth alarm before it was put out at 4:20 a.m.

Authorities have yet to find out the cause and origin of fire.