In Tondo Manila, six persons were hurt when a fire, reportedly caused by faulty electrical wiring, razed 50 houses in residential neighborhood before noon.
Residents also reported two children missing. Both were believed to have been trapped in one of the burning houses.
As of press time, firefighters have not recovered bodies from the debris during mopping up operations.
"It seems these children only got lost during the commotion. But my men are still conducting search operations as of this time," Manila Fire Bureau chief Superintendent Pablito Cordeta said.
A young boy named Ricardo, earlier reported as missing, turned up alive with his family yesterday, according to arson investigator SFO1 Rodelio Nelvis.
The fire struck a house owned by the Ramirez family at the corner of Corral and Juan Luna streets at around 10:23 a.m.
Nelvis said smoke was first noticed emanating from the ceiling of the house before it ignited into a huge fire.
Some 50 houses made of semi-concrete materials were razed by the fire which reached the fifth alarm.
Nelvis said two civilian volunteer firemen, two responding firefighters and two elderly residents suffered lacerations, contusion and minor burns. The injured were treated at different hospitals.
They were identified as fire volunteers Dondon Cruz, 26; and Alfredo Estrada, 35; SFO3 Willie Brillantes and SFO1 Alvin Legaspi and residents Erlinda Corallo, 60; and Alfredo Salazar, 62.
The fire was finally put out after two hours at around 12:25 p.m.
Damage to property was initially placed at P3 million.
In Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City some 50 houses were destroyed in a fire which started at 11:38 a.m.
Senior Fire Officer 2 Felipe Caguing, arson investigator, said the blaze reached Task Force Foxtrot.
Caguing said a resident, identified as Roger Santiago, 18, was injured in the incident after he was hit by metal scrap while trying to save some of their belongings.
More than 30 firetrucks trooped to the scene. The fire was placed under control around 3:22 p.m.
Caguing said they are conducting follow-up operations to determine the cause of the fire. Damage to property was placed at P5 million.
In Marikina City, three people were injured when a two-hour fire broke out at 1:50 p.m.
Fire investigators said the fire razed some 20 homes worth P5 million and displaced 43 families.
The fire started at the house of a certain Kahan Nori located on Singkamas street, Sitio Tumana, Barangay Concecpcion Uno.
"Nasa gitna kasi ang bahay kaya’t mabilis na kumalat ang apoy sa magkabilang panig," a resident said.
Residents tried to put out the blaze with pails of water while waiting for firefighters.
The fire reached the 5th alarm with firemen from nearby towns and cities rushing to the scene.
Those injured were carrying their belongings from burning houses when hit by falling debris. They sustained minor injuries and were sent home after treatment at the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center.
The displaced families are currently housed at the nearby Marikina Heights Elementary School.
Arson investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire, which was put under control at 3 p.m. — With Rhodina Villanueva, Non Alquitran