Christmas Day fires leave 600 homeless

MANILA, Philippines - Nearly 600 persons were left homeless by two fires in Muntinlupa and Quezon City on Christmas Day.

A fire destroyed around 300 houses at a shantytown in Purok 6, Barangay Bayanan at around 7:50 p.m. Wednesday. The blaze reached fifth alarm before it was put out at around 11:25 p.m.

Three people suffered lacerations as they escaped from the fire, the cause of which remains unknown.

The residents displaced by the fire are staying at evacuation centers provided by the Muntinlupa City government.

In Quezon City, two houses were damaged in separate incidents yesterday, deputy city fire marshal Superintendent Samuel Tadeo said.

At past noon, a fire broke out at a two-story row house of Rony Roberto in Brescia Subdivision, Barangay West Fairview. The fire was reportedly caused by an overheated electric fan in a second-floor bedroom.

No one was hurt in the fire, which was put out around 15 minutes later.

At past 10 p.m., flames broke out at a second-floor bedroom of a two-story house owned by Edilberto Russel in Barangay Tatalon. The fire was put out a few minutes later. – Mike Frialde, Reinir Padua