Bureau of Fire Protection/MANILA BULLETIN
One person died while four others were injured in a fire that gutted 400 houses on Oroquieta St., Barangay 310, Sta Cruz, Manila, on Sunday morning, May 14. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) identified the injured victims as Danilo Roque, 29, who sustained a laceration on his left foot, and Neil Royo, 26, who was rescued with multiple second-degree burns on different parts of his body. The other two were Raquel Baylos, 34, who suffered left knee wounds, and Welma Norbais, 61, who had a fracture on the right part of her hips. They were immediately given first aid by responding personnel from Philippine Red Cross (PRC). Meanwhile, the identity of the lone fatality was not yet revealed. Authorities also reported two missing residents, as of this writing. According to BFP, the fire started on the fourth floor of a five-story residential building. The fire was declared first alarm at 2:49 a.m. It was immediately raised to second alarm at 2:50 a.m. and third alarm at 2:51 a.m. Firefighters said the fire already spread out to adjacent houses when they arrived at the area. The fire escalated to fourth alarm at 3:14 a.m. and the fifth alarm at 3:49 a.m. It took the firemen three hours before the fire was put under control at 6:43 a.m. and another five hours to extinguish it at 12:04 p.m. Over 1,200 families or 2,500 individuals were affected by the fire. BFP said the fire had caused property damages worth approximately P1.5-million. Meanwhile, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) implemented limited operations from Antipolo to V. Mapa stations and vice versa. The connecting bridge from Recto and Doroteo Jose stations also remains impassable. "The LRT2 Team is conducting clearing operations and thoroughly assessing the affected area. Once the inspection is completed and safety clearance is issued, LRT2 will resume full-line operations," LRTA advised. BFP said the investigation is ongoing to determine the cause and origin of the blaze.