5 dead, 37 hurt in 2 Manila fires

MANILA, Philippines - Five people, including three minors, died while 37 others were wounded in two separate fires in Manila yesterday.

The five fatalities were trapped on the second floor of a house with a small grocery in front along Tahimik street in Delpan, Tondo. Among those who died were sisters Joana dela Cruz, 21, and Jamaica, 17, who transferred to Manila to study this school year.

The three others were identified as store employees Junjun, 16, and Tintin; and a certain Shane.

Store owner Wilson Villanueva is reportedly in the province, according to arson investigators.

Fire Officer 3 Oliver Sison said the fire broke out just before 4 a.m. It quickly spread and reached fifth alarm before it was put out about an hour later.

According to their friend, Albert Andrade, the victims were sleeping in a room on the second floor when the fire broke out.

Store employees Marvin Frado and Ronald Bulevar tried to wake them up by banging on the door of their room.

“We woke up and saw flames. We tried to wake up the girls but their room was locked. We jumped out a window,” Frado said in Filipino.

When firemen inspected the building, Junjun’s charred remains were found on the first floor.

Some of the building walls collapsed, including that of the bathroom where Tintin’s body was recovered.

LPG tank explosion

Two hours later, 37 people were hurt when a tank of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exploded and caused huge fire in Parola Compound, also in Tondo.

According to Alfredo Puro, he had just bought the tank when he noticed it was leaking. Despite this, he still brought it to an alley way, where his friend, who owns an eatery, was cooking food. It was then that the tank exploded.

According to the bureau of fire, the flames quickly spread to the shanties making up the slum in Parola.

Puro, the bureau added, is in critical condition and remains confined in a hospital.