MANILA, Philippines - A portion of Pinaglabanan Street in San Juan City remained impassable on Wednesday due to the debris left by a fire that razed a slum area on Christmas Day, leaving 2,000 families homeless.
The affected portion of main street in San Juan stretches to the areas of P. Guevarra and Jose Gil.
Buses plying the Taytay-Quiapo, Cainta-Quiapo, and Tanay-Quiapo route as well as jeepneys on the daily run between San Juan and Rosario, Pasig points had to make detours to the Pasadena/Santolan junction.
The Eastern Police District has provided security to the affected residents.
The fire struck at around 2:25 a.m. in Barangay Saint Joseph.
Around 160 houses were razed before responding firefighters extinguished the blaze around 7:09 a.m.
A 32-year-old man identified as Michael Muñozwas reportedly beaten to death by angry residents on suspicion that he was the one who set fire to their houses.
While firemen were putting out the blaze in San Juan City, another fire sparked and gutted a row of apartment units in Quezon city, killing a family of six and a helper.
Fire officials said veterinarian Carlos Filamor Sr., who owned the property on Rest Haven Street in Barangay Bungad, and his entire household were killed.
Senior Superintendent Aderson Comar, assistant regional director for operations of the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region, said the charred bodies were all found at the unit occupied by the victims.
Aside from Carlos, those who died were his wife Corina, 50; their two children, Carlos Jr., 25, and Eva, 26; Eva’s two sons, Miguel Andrei Mutuc, 13, and Mateo Aaron Mutuc, 14; and family helper Marina Ayon, 48.
City fire marshal Senior Superintendent Bobby Baruelo said the fire was reported to have started at around 5:24 a.m.