Around 500 families affected by Tondo fire

Manila residents are dwarfed by a cloud of black smoke emanating from a fire-hit residential area in Happyland, Tondo on Apr. 18, 2020.
The STAR/Ernie Penaredondo

MANILA, Philippines — An estimated 450 to 500 families, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection, have been displaced by a Saturday morning blaze that razed through a residential area in Happyland, a slum in Tondo, Manila.

The BFP said damages were evaluated at around P1.2 million.

While the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, an overheated electric fan is suspected to be the origin based on initial information.

The incident reportedly started past 7:00 a.m. with the “Task Force Bravo” (fifth-highest) alarm level eventually being raised before fire out was finally declared at 9:41 a.m. by local authorities, the Philippine Red Cross posted.

No injuries were reported but a senior fire officer was said to have been assisted by emergency medical services in Manila due to exhaustion.

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