Mandaluyong fire leaves 1,000 families homeless

MANILA, Philippines - At least 1,000 families were left homeless when a fire caused by faulty electrical wiring hit a residential area in Mandaluyong City yesterday.

The fire, which broke out at a squatters’ area in Barangay Addition Hills, was the biggest to hit the city so far, according to Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr.

Abalos said five barangay halls and covered basketball courts would be used as temporary shelter for the affected families.

Superintendent Samuel Tadeo, chief of the National Capital Region Fire Department District 4, said the blaze started in the house of one Jopay along Molave street at past 2 p.m.

Abalos said firemen had a hard time putting out the flames because of narrow streets leading to the area.

“We requested for a helicopter from the Air Force because the fire trucks could not enter the site,” he said.

Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Elmer Jamias ordered the police to re-route traffic in the area to give way to the fire trucks.

The fire reached Task Force Alpha at 4:30 p.m. No one was reported hurt in the fire.