2 children dead, 3,500 left homeless in Navotas fire

MANILA, Philippines - Heavy rains failed to put out a four-hour fire that raged in a squatter’s colony along Barangays Navotas West and Sipac in Navotas City Thursday night.

Two children were killed in the blaze, which razed at least 1,500 shanties and left more than 3,500 families homeless.

“Strong winds fanned the blaze so despite heavy rains, at least 1,500 houses along the seashore were burned,” Fire Officer 2 Darius Beronilla told The STAR.

Police said Ruby Rolleon, 7, a second-grader, drowned when she jumped into the sea to escape the fire while another child, identified only as Bryn, was also reported killed in the blaze.

Beronilla said the blaze started at the house of Rufo Lagaras on Davila street in Barangay Navotas West at around 6:25 p.m. when a container full of gasoline caught fire.

“We are still investigating if what really caused the blaze but witnesses said it was triggered by a gallon of gasoline that accidentally caught fire,” he said.

The fire quickly spread throughout the neighborhood and to the adjacent Barangay Sipac wherein houses were also made of wood and bamboo.

The body of an eight-year-old girl, Ruby Heart Romion, was burned when his family and mourners left his remains behind.

Bryan Tupaz, 22, Lagaras’ boarder, also sustained minor burns while escaping the blaze, Beronilla said.

He said narrow alleys and some of the shanties being on stilts made it difficult for firefighters. The fire reached Task Force Delta and it took firemen more than four hours to put it out.

Meanwhile, Mayor John Rey Tiangco suspended classes at the Navotas City High School and the Bagumbayan Elementary School yesterday as he turned the classrooms into temporary shelters for the victims.

The mayor directed the city’s social welfare department to immediately provide food and relief goods to the affected families.

Tiangco also tasked the city health office to look after the physical condition of the fire victims.