Fire rages in Divisoria

MANILA, Philippines - A fire broke out at a commercial building in Divisoria, Manila at past midnight yesterday.

The fire continued to rage 12 hours since it started, authorities said.

Arson investigators believe that fireworks being sold on the sidewalk could have caused the fire that broke out at around 12:30 a.m. at a three-story building at the corner of M. de Santos and Tabora streets.

The fire started at the Atlantic Glassware store on the ground floor of the Sun Master Building, reportedly owned by Lucio Co, according to Chief Inspector Bonifacio Carta, who heads the Manila Fire Bureau’s arson investigation division.

The blaze spread to two adjacent buildings as the fourth alarm was raised shortly before 1 a.m. The fire was declared under control at around 10 a.m.

A vendor said some people were using firecrackers near the building just before midnight. The man, who refused to be identified, said he did not actually see a firecracker exploding at one of the stalls selling fireworks near the building, but he heard a loud explosion before people ran in different directions.

Authorities estimated structural damage at P10 million, while figures on the extent of property damage was unavailable as of press time.

Carta said firetrucks had a hard time penetrating the area because the vendors had practically occupied the streets. The fire immediately spread to the top of the building because of the school supplies that were being sold at the ground floor.

The second floor and the third floor, on the other hand, were being used as storage areas of highly combustible merchandise, he said.

Blaze breaks out in GSIS building

Meanwhile, a half-hour fire broke out at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building along Pureza street in Sta. Mesa, Manila at around 2:26 p.m. yesterday.

Investigators said no one was hurt in the GSIS building fire.