1 dead, 2,500 families lose homes in 2 Manila fires

A man was killed and over 2,500 families lost their homes in separate fires that struck residential areas in Binondo and Tondo, Manila, early Saturday.

The first fire, which engulfed at least 50 houses and displaced 100 families, began shortly past midnight of Nov. 15 on Valderama Street in Binondo near Delpan Bridge. It reached the fourth alarm in less than 10 minutes and was declared out by 5:30 a.m.

Around the same time, another fire broke out and spread across 1,000 homes at Gate 18, Area H, Parola Compound in Tondo.

The raging inferno reached general alarm around 2 a.m. and it took firefighters another two hours to place the fire under control. It was declared out shortly before 8 a.m.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Sany Lacuban of Manila Fire District’s San Lazaro Station said no deaths or injuries were reported in the Binondo fire, but the body of a man burned beyond recognition was found among the ruins of the Tondo blaze.

The fatality remained unidentified at press time while eight other Tondo residents required medical attention for breathing difficulties.

The displaced families have sought temporary shelter in nearby basketball courts. The cause of both fires is still under investigation.

The two fires struck two days after raging flames gutted a commercial building on Quintin Paredes Street, also in Binondo, and destroyed P2.5 million worth of merchandise, mostly sporting goods.

The five-hour fire which started at 9 p.m. on Thursday damaged a three-story building reportedly leased by City Chain Trading Co. owned by Henry Son. Annelle Tayao-Juego