700 families left homeless in Taguig fire

MANILA, Philippines - A fire broke out at a slum area in Taguig City Sunday night, leaving at least 700 families homeless and destroying P10 million worth of property.

Two men were hurt in the blaze, which lasted two hours. Pfc Dandroev Manalo was assisting firemen when a falling tin sheet hit his left arm, while Boyet Manzano suffered burns on his right leg as he saved his belongings.

Inspector Jerson Montellana, chief fire investigator, said the fire in Sitio Pula, Barangay Ususan started at about 11:20 p.m. A leaking hose of a liquefied petroleum gas tank owned by Benny and Miriam Agpalasin was eyed as the cause of the fire.

“They were reportedly having an argument when the hose went ablaze. When threw the stove outside the house, the fire immediately spread to neighboring houses,” Montellana told The STAR.

Firefighters used nearly 40 to 47 firetrucks to put out the fire at 1:25 a.m. yesterday.

Montellana said narrow alleys, with residents and belongings scattered along them, slowed their response. By the time they reached the site of the blaze at around 11:23 p.m., six to seven homes had already been razed.

Mayor Laarni Cayetano said the Senator Rene “Compañero” Cayetano Science and Technology Memorial High School and the Diosdado Macapagal High School will serve as evacuation centers. Each family also received P500 assistance.