12 hearses destroyed in Malabon fire

Manila, Philippines - At least 12 hearses were destroyed when a 30-minute fire broke out at the garage of a funeral parlor in Malabon City yesterday.

Fire Officer 3 Jerry Torres said the mortuary section of the Floresco Funeral Parlor in Barangay Longos was also gutted.

Fire Officer 3 Jun Torres said the fire started at around 9:14 a.m. and quickly spread as the gas tanks of the parked vehicles exploded. Mourners who were at the parlor for a funeral scheduled at 9 a.m. fled the establishment, according to bystander Jun Sibal.

Torres said they are still investigating the exact cause of the fire that destroyed some P2 million worth of properties. Firemen, led by Malabon City fire marshal Chief Inspector Rodrigo Reyes, used 21 fire trucks to contain the blaze within the funeral parlor compound. The fire was put out at about 9:43 a.m.