MANILA, Philippines — More than 150 families were left homeless after a fire of still undetermined origin razed the Happyland slum in Tondo, Manila yesterday morning.
The blaze started at the second floor of a house owned by Jonathan Topacio at around 11:30 a.m., the Manila Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.
The fire reached second alarm at around noon and was put out around two hours later, the BFP said.
Arson investigators said they are still checking reports that a drug session was being held in the house where the fire started.
A certain Rodeo de Varas sustained a laceration on the forehead and initial reports that two children were missing turned out to be untrue, the BFP said.
The BFP said the fire destroyed approximately P100,000 worth of property.