Tondo fire traced to ‘jumper’; 200 families homeless

AN EIGHT-HOUR fire destroyed a slum neighborhood and two apartment buildings in Tondo, Manila, on Friday, leaving about 200 families homeless.

An enfeebled woman who lived in the house where the fire started was feared to have died after flames engulfed her neighborhood on Narcisa Rizal Street. Victoria Mina, 70, remained missing and a search was still ongoing at press time, according to Senior Fire Officer 2 Sany Lacuban of the city fire department.

Eight other residents sustained minor injuries and damage to property was estimated at P10 million, Lacuban said.

Based on Inquirer interviews with the affected residents, the fire started at the house of Mina, who lived with another elderly woman, 82-year-old Monica Miranda, and the latter’s grandchildren.

Joyce, Miranda’s granddaughter who was not home during the fire, said a “jumper” or an illegal power connection inside their house gave off sparks around 3 a.m.

She said her older sister tried to call for help, but decided to take their family members out of the house because the fire quickly spread.

They started with Miranda and their other siblings. But when they tried to go back for Mina, the fire already prevented them from reentering the house, Joyce said. She noted that Mina was already weak with age and could no longer walk unassisted.

William Phi, owner a three-level apartment building which also burned down, said five tenant families were affected by the fire. Another residential building in the area was damaged.  With a report from Apec Sta. Ana