1 dead, 4 hurt in Manila fire

MANILA, Philippines — A fire that broke out in Sta. Cruz, Manila before dawn yesterday left one dead and four injured.

The blaze, which started at around 2:49 a.m., also left 1,500 families homeless, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Arson probers have yet to name the fatality.

The BFP identified the injured as Welma Norbais, 61, who suffered a fractured hip; Raquel Baylos, 34, who sustained a wound in her left knee; Danilo Roque, 29, who had lacerations in his left foot, and Neil Royo, 26, who bore second-degree burns in various parts of his body.

The fire reached fifth alarm at 3:49 a.m. and destroyed around P1.5 million worth of property before it was put out at around noon. Investigators have yet to determine what caused the fire.

Meanwhile, the Light Rail Transit Line 2 announced that it implemented provisionary services from the LRT-2’s Antipolo to V. Mapa stations and vice versa after the fire spread to parts of Recto station.

Full operations at the LRT-2 resumed at around 1 p.m. after personnel assessed the damage to Recto station. The rail line told commuters that the connecting bridge to Doroteo Jose station will remain closed.