2 dead, 2 hurt in QC blaze

MANILA, Philippines - Two men died while two women were injured during a fire that left around 200 families homeless in Quezon City Thursday afternoon.

Fire investigator SFO2 Fortunato Alde said the fire broke out in Barangay Damayan where Andy Gonzales, 49, and Jaime Aguilar, 53, died.

Alde said Gonzales was trapped inside his burning house while Aguilar died after hitting his head on the concrete floor when he slipped as he was rushing out of his house.

Melanie Luteria, 29, and Nieva Salazar, 51, suffered puncture wounds in the left arm and right hand, respectively.

Alde said the blaze gutted around 100 shanties and destroyed an estimated P5 million worth of properties before it was put out more than an hour after it started at around 3:12 p.m.

Probers said the fire may have been caused by a lit candle left unattended at the house of Baby Alinganga.