MANILA, Philippines — A fire broke out at the old Araneta Center bus terminal in Cubao, Quezon City yesterday afternoon.
The blaze that started at around 4:46 p.m. at a building along Times Square street in Barangay Socorro was raised to Task Force Bravo at past 5 p.m., according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The fire disrupted businesses in the area, with commercial establishments shutting down operations and evacuating employees as well as customers.
At least 28 fire trucks responded to contain the fire.
Arson probers said the cause of the fire, which originated at the bus terminal’s barracks, has not been established.
The fire was still raging as of 6 p.m. yesterday.
In Barangay Krus na Ligas, a mother and her daughter died in a fire, believed to be a case of arson.
The charred remains of Judy Aliquino and her daughter Alexis were recovered in a two-story house they rented.
The BFP said the blaze broke out at around 2:29 a.m. and reached the first alarm.
City fire marshal Aristotle Banaga said the fire could be intentional, based on the information and evidence they have gathered.
Banaga said before the fire erupted, a resident overheard a commotion from the victims’ room.
“Nandun ‘yung bata sinasabi nagsisigaw ng tulong. Hindi lang mabuksan kasi naka-lock ang pinto,” Banaga said in an interview on GMA News.
The Aquilinos have been renting the second floor of the house since September 202l.
The victims’ corpses were brought to a funeral parlor for safekeeping.
The fire destroyed P24,000 worth of property, the BFP said.