Tondo fire leaves 1 dead, 4,000 homeless

MANILA, Philippines -  Fire raced through a slum in Tondo, Manila Saturday night, killing a five-year-old girl, gutting over 500 shanties and leaving 4,000 people homeless, an official said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Bonifacio Carta, head of the Manila City Fire District, said the body of Erica Joy Valdez, was found by scavengers in their gutted house at around 2 a.m. yesterday.

The victim was initially reported missing by her mother, Juliet Valdez, who later realized that she had left behind her daughter when she escaped from the blaze.

Carta said Erica Joy and her mother were asleep when the fire broke out, which could have been the reason why Juliet had left behind her daughter.

Carta said three residents were also hurt while trying to save their belongings: Jesus Litado, 17; Ruben Desolo, 24; and Rechita Saleleng, 32.

Initial investigation showed that the fire started at 9:47 p.m. Saturday at the house of Eric Lacay. It spread to neighboring shanties and reached Task Force Delta – one level shy of calling a general alarm, which would summon all firefighters in Metro Manila – before it was put out at 11:22 p.m.

Arson investigators said the blaze gutted over P2 million worth of properties. They said they have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

The slum colony had been hit by huge fires in previous years, including a 2002 fire that left some 15,000 residents homeless, and a 2004 fire that razed shanties of 12,000 dwellers. – With AP