1 dead, 8 hurt in Manila slum fires

MANILA, Philippines - A person died and eight others were hurt when two fires broke out in the slums of Parola Compound and Delpan in Manila.

The fatality, who was from Parola, was charred beyond recognition, city fire marshal Superintendent Jaime Ramirez said. None of those injured was a minor, he added.

The Parola fire broke out at about 12:39 a.m. Friday in the house of one “Mr. Steve,” which was three to five meters away from a tent where a funeral was being held.

“We believe the ones who organized the funeral illegally tapped Mr. Steve’s electricity connections so his system overloaded,” Ramirez said.

More than 2,500 families were affected after 1,000 shanties were razed. Ramirez pegged the damages to P6.5 million.

He added that about 200 to 250 fire trucks from all over Metro Manila responded to the site. 

Firefighters had difficulty putting out the fire, which reached general alarm, the highest level of an eight-step fire alert. The blaze was put out at around 7:45 a.m.

Prior to the incident, a fire that reached fourth alarm broke out in neighboring Delpan. No one died but the fire left 100 families homeless.