Fire hits Novaliches

A fire believed to be caused by illegal electric connections reportedly killed one, while four others were reported missing.

The fire gutted a residential area in Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City yesterday afternoon.

Reports from the Bureau of Fire Protection-Quezon City indicated that the fire started at around 2 p.m. When Task Force Abra was declared at 2:45 p.m., at least 40 houses had been reduced to rubble.

Initial reports reaching the BFP-QC bared that the charred remains of the lone fatality has been recovered, four others believed to be children, still cannot be found by their parents.

Witnesses said the fire started from the house of a certain Erlinda Bermejo, whose electric line connection has been connected with illegal "jumpers."

Government and volunteer firemen had difficulty putting out the fire because of the narrow streets. As of 5 p.m yesterday, the firemen were still several meters away from the area.

The fire followed another fire incident that razed several houses in Barangay Krus na Ligas, near the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City, which displaced hundreds of families.

President Arroyo, who visited the area on Tuesday, promised residents that their houses will be rebuilt soon.