Three people were hurt, while 500 families were displaced after a fire gutted 300 houses inside the Manila International Container Port (MICT) in Purok 3, Isla Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila on Wednesday afternoon, April 10.
The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Office (DRRMO) identified one of the injured victims as Charmaine Mendoza who had breathing difficulty, while the other victims sustained puncture wounds.
They were given immediate first aid treatment at the scene.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire was declared first alarm at 3:49 p.m. and second alarm at 3:55 p.m.
It escalated to the third alarm at 4:03 p.m. and the fourth alarm at 4:48 p.m.
The blaze reached the fifth alarm at 5:08 p.m.
Firefighters said they needed additional water supply, which prompted them to raise the alarm to Task Force Alpha at 5:31 p.m.
It took them three more hours to bring the fire under control at 8:29 p.m. and another five hours before it was finally extinguished at 1:07 a.m. on Thursday.
Residents said the fire allegedly started inside a house located in Purok 3 which quickly spread to the neighboring houses in Purok 3 and 4.
Authorities said a stove that was left open may have caused the fire.
Arson investigators recorded more or less P1 million worth of damage to property.
Meanwhile, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan directed the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) and MDRRMO to provide the victims with modular tents, hot meals, and bottled water.
Around 500 families or 1,000 individuals were temporarily sheltered at Delpan Sports Complex.
The city government will also provide financial assistance to the displaced victims.