Tondo fire leaves 300 families homeless

ABOUT 100 houses were damaged, and an estimated 300 families were left homeless in a fire that broke out in Tondo, Manila, on Tuesday night.

A report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) relayed to the Manila Police indicated that the fire started at 9:49 p.m. and reached the fifth alarm at 11:02 p.m.

Firefighters declared a fire out at 2:07 a.m.

The BFP said the fire supposedly originated from a three-story residential building along Capulong Street corner Lacson Street, Tondo, owned by Roger and Ine Gloria.

No fatality was recorded, but two people were injured identified as Fire Officer 1 (FO1) Philip Chua, who acquired a minor laceration on their right palm, and Julieta Rodemo, a senior citizen and PWD who got superficial burns on her right foot.

The victims were rushed to the Tondo General Medical Center for immediate medical treatment.

Based on the BFP's estimates, property damage was at P1,500,000.

Aid to fire victims

The city government of Manila on Tuesday distributed financial aid for the 626 families affected by the nine fire incidents reported from Nov. 10 to Dec. 13, 2023.

Manila Mayor Maria Sheila «Honey» Lacuna-Pangan, Vice Mayor Yul Servo-Nieto, and Manila Department of Social Welfare Officer in Charge Ma. Asuncion Fugoso handed out P10,000 for each family and P3,000 per unattached individual.

Aside from the financial assistance, affected individuals were also supplied with hot meals and necessities such as hygiene kits and mats.

«We know this will not be enough to cover all you lost in the incident. But we do hope that it can help you at least start again. We, in the local government of Manila, were very sad about what you have been through. But just as the vice mayor said, those are just material things. What is more important is that you and your families are safe,» Lacuna-Pangan said during the distribution of assistance at the Universidad de Manila.