Fire displaces 500 families in Valenzuela

MANILA, Philippines - Fire struck a residential area in Valenzuela City Wednesday afternoon, leaving at least 500 families homeless.

Reports said that the fire broke out at past noon at the De Gula compound along T. De Leon Street in Karuhatan.

The blaze reached Task Force Alpha before it was put out at 2:45 p.m.

Valenzuela City fire marshal Superintendent Mel Ilagan said that the fire started from a shanty house, where a three-year-old boy played with matchsticks.

Ilagan said that at least 400 shanty homes were gutted by the fire.