Fire hits island slum in Tondo

MANILA, Philippines - A fire hit a shantytown in Isla Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila yesterday afternoon, forcing residents to jump into the Manila Bay to save their lives.

More than 5,000 residents were left homeless as the fire, which broke out at around 4:10 p.m., and destroyed more than a thousand shanties. The blaze reached the fifth and highest alarm.

Firefighters said they had difficulty battling the flames because there are no fire hydrants in the area. They had not yet put out the fire as of 7:12 p.m.

Chief Inspector Bonifacio Carta, head of the Manila fire investigation division, said part of a galvanized iron roof hit Senior Inspector Crossib Cante in the face.

He confirmed that residents jumped into the water to avoid being trapped.

Arson investigators were still looking into the cause of the blaze, he said.

It was also reported that the Philippine Coast Guard were called in to help evacuate the fire victims. – Rey Galupo, Sandy Araneta