Fires in Tondo, Munti leave 900 families homeless on Christmas

MANILA, Philippines - At least 900 families will spend Christmas in evacuation centers after fires razed shantytowns in Muntinlupa City and Tondo, Manila starting Thursday night.

In Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, the fire broke out at around 7:15 p.m. at the house of Cerafin Litada, 47, who is reportedly suffering from a mental health problem. It reached general alarm, which means that all available fire trucks in Metro Manila were needed at the scene, before it was put out just before 2 a.m. yesterday.

The blaze destroyed the houses of approximately 800 families. No one was hurt in the fire but property damage was pegged at P10 million.

Affected residents are currently staying at the Cupang Elementary School.

Mayor Aldrin San Pedro has ordered the city social services department to assist the victims.

At the Baseco Compound in Tondo, around 100 families lost their homes when a fire broke out at around 6:20 a.m., caused by an unattended stove, firefighters said. It was contained at around 7 a.m.

The displaced families were temporarily housed in the World Mission Center, a tutorial facility run by a non-government organization, and in tents for those who can no longer be accommodated by the center.

City social welfare chief Jay de la Fuente said Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered that the affected families be fed and taken care of for three days and for him to study the possibility of granting financial assistance to the victim.

De la Fuente said this is the third time this year that a fire broke out in this area.

No injuries or deaths were reported in either fire.