Fire destroys 20 houses in San Juan

MANILA, Philippines - About 20 houses were gutted in a two-hour blaze that hit a neighborhood in San Juan City early yesterday morning.

City fire marshal Chief Inspector Edwin Co said an explosion was heard from a second-floor apartment, owned by Beron Corpuz, in a building at the corner of F. Manalo and Blumentritt streets shortly before the fire started at around 2:28 a.m.

Flames spread through the building and adjacent homes, mostly shanties made of light materials.

Resident Richard Dirametra, who was among those who helped put out the fire, sustained third-degree burns.

Responding firemen from the San Juan fire station as well as from other neighboring fire stations were able to put it under control after two hours.

Co said they are still investigating the cause of the fire. – Rainier Allan Ronda