3 hurt, 50 families left homeless in Pasig fire

MANILA, Philippines - Three people were injured in a one-hour fire that destroyed 30 houses and property estimated at P5 million in Pasig City yesterday.

Arson investigators are still determining the cause of the fire that left around 50 families homeless in a thickly populated area of Barangay Santolan.

Feliza Lavena, 76; her son, Ismael, 37; and Fermin Bolanduy, all residents of Concepcion street, suffered second-degree burns and are being treated at the Pasig City General Hospital.

According to reports, the fire started at the ground floor of the Lavenas’ house at about 2:23 a.m. yesterday. The victims were sound asleep when the fire broke out, and were roused by their neighbors’ shouts.

The fire reached the third alarm before firefighters from Pasig and nearby cities declared it under control at about 3:29 a.m.

The victims are cooperating with arson investigators who are trying to determine the cause of the fire.

Those rendered homeless by the fire were given shelter at the barangay hall building.