Teen killed, 30 homes destroyed in Tondo fire

A 15-year-old boy died in a fire that hit a slum neighborhood in Tondo, Manila, on Tuesday morning.

The fire, which destroyed at least 30 homes in Isla Puting Bato near Manila International Container Terminal, was reportedly caused by a leaking LPG tank at the house of the fatality, Froilan dela Cruz.

Chief Insp. Marvin Carbonel of the Manila fire department said someone at the boy’s residence was cooking at around 11 a.m. and tinkered with the leaking tank without turning off the stove.

There was no explosion reported but the flame grew quickly and spread to neighboring houses.

Carbonel said Froilan and his family were able to rush out of their house as the kitchen went ablaze, but the boy suddenly went back to get something.

His remains were found after the fire was declared out around 1 p.m.

Around 70 families were affected while five freight containers were damaged.

Riot policemen surrounded the affected area after looters were seen pulling roofing sheets and electric wire from the burning homes.

A photographer saw about 100 people, most of them men, engaged in tug of wars over electricity cables. —AIE BALAGTAS SEE, AFP