3 dead, 9 hurt in slum area fires

MANILA, Philippines - Three persons were killed and nine others were injured as fires razed three squatter areas in Metro Manila yesterday.

Eight persons were wounded and 2,000 people were left homeless when a four-hour fire razed the slum area of Tampoi II in Marulus Village, Valenzuela City at past 2 a.m.

City fire marshal Superintendent Mel Lagan said an unidentified man set a motorcycle on fire. “It’s arson,” he said, adding that it was the “fourth try” this year, but the only one that succeeded.

The motorcycle was owned by the Jamolod couple, who lives in the middle of the half-hectare slum area.

Lagan also pegged the damage at P5 million as two nearby factories were also affected.

At past 9 a.m., a fireman was hurt and 100 families were left homeless when a fire destroyed 50 shanties along Quirino Highway in Barangay Unang Sigaw, Quezon City.

SFO2 Renato Gallego said the blaze started in one of the rented rooms of a house, which had no power connection, owned by Eufenia Cruz. A married couple occupied the room.

Roger Mabesa, head of the village watchmen, said the wife tried to commit suicide by drinking silver cleaning fluid, believing that her husband was having an affair. In the rush to take her to the hospital, the lit candles in the couple’s room were left behind. She was released after being treated at the East Avenue Medical Center.

Arson investigators have yet to talk to the couple.

In Manila, three persons were killed after a fire spread through Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila at past 2 p.m.

Three unidentified females aged two, 22 and 44 were killed in a three-hour fire that started at a shanty along Zaragoza street, destroyed around 100 houses and left 200 families homeless, according to a report to Fire Inspector Bonifacio Carta.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out at the Manila Film Center building in Pasay City last night.

As of press time, firefighters have yet to put out the blaze. – Aie Balagtas See, Reinir Padua, Sandy Araneta, Perseus Echeminada