Tondo fire victims housed in schools

MANILA, Philippines — More than 750 families left homeless by a fire that broke out at a slum area in Tondo, Manila on Saturday are taking shelter in two schools.

The local government assured authorities that quarantine measures would be implemented while the affected families are housed at the Vicente Lim and Amado Hernandez elementary schools.

City hall officials said they would provide food and other assistance to the displaced residents, but “our immediate concern is public health and safety.”

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, 756 families lost their homes in a fire that struck Happyland along Road 10.

City social welfare and development office chief Re Fuguso said more than 3,000 individuals were evacuated to the schools and the covered court of Barangay 105.

“It’s challenging to implement physical distancing in the evacuation centers, but we will do our best,” Fugoso said.