MANILA, Philippines — More than 500 families who lost their homes in a two-hour fire in Sta. Mesa, Manila have been taken to evacuation centers and are now under the care of the city government, Mayor Isko Moreno said yesterday.
Moreno said he ordered city social welfare department chief Re Fugoso to bring the victims to the Hippodromo, Polytechnic University of the Philippines and barangay covered courts and extend the necessary assistance.
The fire victims were fed and given food packs while they wait for the opportunity to rebuild their houses.
An estimated 300 houses made of light materials were destroyed in the fire that reportedly started in the house of a certain Edilberto Layson at the corner of Road 12 and Anonas street at around 3:24 p.m. on Monday.
No one was hurt in the blaze. The Bureau of Fire Protection estimated the fire damage to be at P1 million.