5 hurt in QC fire

MANILA, Philippines - Five persons were injured and 150 families were left homeless when a fire razed a Quezon City slum on Monday afternoon.

The flames that hit houses on Galilan street in ROTC Hunters cluster, Barangay Tatalon reached Task Force Alpha before it was finally put out with 20 fire trucks, said city fire marshal Superintendent Jesus Fernandez.

Those injured were a certain SFO2 Arubang, who sustained second-degree burns; resident John Marivic, 20, whose foot got cut; Jeri Ruiz, 45, who had a lacerated foot; Mark Antonio, 16, who had a lacerated palm; and Henry Ranulfo, who suffered second-degree burns.

Fernandez said the flames started at the rooftop of a two-story house owned by Merlita Sayson, 59, reportedly due to an electrical short circuit. The fire spread to the rest of the neighborhood, razing 50 houses made of light materials. The blaze destroyed P500,000 worth of properties before it was put out around two hours later.