A 19-year-old boy was injured while 360 families or 1,118 individuals were rendered homeless by a fire that gutted at least 240 houses on Dapo Street, Pandacan, Manila on Thursday morning, Jan. 11.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) identified the victim as Prince Adrian Cayago, who sustained a laceration on top of his head.
He was rushed to Ospital ng Maynila by the emergency team of Manila Fire District (MFD) and is currently under observation.
The BFP said the fire was raised to the first alarm at 5:57 a.m. and to the second alarm at 5:59 a.m.
It escalated to the third alarm at 6:49 a.m. and to the fourth alarm at 6:57 a.m.
Firefighters declared the blaze under control at 8:01 a.m.
It was extinguished at 8:26 a.m.
Based on the initial investigation, the fire started on the second floor of a two-story house owned by Fernando "Boyet" Melgar.
The BFP said three barangays were affected by the fire. They were barangays 849, 850, 852.
It said 53 displaced families or 160 individuals were residing in Barangay 849, while 279 families or 874 individuals were in Barangay 850, and 28 families or 84 individuals in Barangay 852.
According to arson investigators, the residential blocks had adjacent houses made of light materials.
They said 80 of the 240 affected structures were fully gutted.
Around P2.6 million worth of property was damaged.
Firefighters said they had difficulty entering the area as the pathway leading to the burning houses was littered with debris.
Several cables were also scattered in the area after the electric poles caught fire.
They said that they also encountered problems with the water supply.
The affected families called on the Manila local government to help them recover and start anew as all of their properties were damaged.
Meanwhile, personnel of the Manila Department of Social Welfare arrived at the scene and started distributing hot meals to the fire victims.
Financial assistance from the city government will also be provided once the enlisting and verification process is finished, said the Manila Public Information Office.
Authorities are still investigating the origin of the fire.