500 families displaced by Tondo fire

MANILA, Philippines - A fire that lasted three and a half hours gutted 200 homes in Tondo, Manila Saturday night, leaving over 500 families in three barangays homeless.

The fire started in a two-story house owned by Nora Cambry in Barangay 8 at around 9 p.m., according to a report by the Manila Fire District.

The blaze quickly spread to Barangays 9 and 48, reaching fifth alarm before it was put out at past midnight yesterday, according to prober Senior Fire Inspector Redgie Olmedo.

The affected families were temporarily housed at the barangay halls. No one was seriously injured in the incident, Olmedo added.

Fire probers said they have yet to determine the cause of the fire, including the possibility of arson following claims by residents that they were being forced to relocate.