Muntinlupa fire leaves 400 families homeless

MANILA, Philippines - About 400 families were rendered homeless in a fire that hit a slum area in Muntinlupa City Saturday night.

City fire marshall Chief Inspector Roderick Aguto said these families occupied the 200 shanties that were razed in Marquez Compound, Barangay Putatan. No one was reported hurt.

The fire started at about 6:20 p.m. and allegedly originated from the house of a certain Laleng. It reached fifth alarm before it was put out at around 10 p.m. Fifth alarm means all available fire trucks in southern Metro Manila, the district where Muntinlupa belongs, are required to respond to the scene.

According to the fire chief, authorities are looking at unattended fluorescent lamps as the cause of the fire. Witnesses claimed that the lights were left open but the house was empty.

The damages were pegged at P5 million. The victims are temporarily housed in the barangay covered court.