Five children were reported missing and at least 200 families were rendered homeless in separate fires that hit Metro Manila on Wednesday.
Manila police Supt. Thomas Ibay, chief of Sta. Cruz police station, said an unidentified charred body was recovered from the scene in a slum area on Arlegui and Globo de Oro streets in Quiapo.
He said three 9-year-olds, an 8-year-old and a 2-year-old were reported missing after the blaze, which started around 8 p.m. The fire was put out about three hours later.
About three hours earlier, fire razed 50 houses in a residential area near SM Aura mall in Taguig City where 200 families lost their homes.
Taguig fire marshall Chief Insp. Ian Guerrero said a resident, Arnel Bacasin, 34, suffered second degree burns.
Fire Officer 1 Dean Errot also was injured when he fell from the second floor of one of the houses, he said.
About 30 firetrucks that responded put out the blaze three hours later.
In Quezon City, a fire caused P500,000 worth of damage to a warehouse belonging to Bataan 2020 Inc., a paper manufacturing company on Quirino Highway, according to Senior Fire Officer 3 Rosendo Cabillan.
No injuries were reported.
Another fire gutted several houses on Maunlad Street, also in Quezon City, but was quickly put out.
It affected at least 18 families, Cabillan said.
The causes of the fires are under investigation. —WITH REPORTS FROM JODEE A. AGONCILLO AND JHESSET O. ENANO