1 dead in Quezon City fire

MANILA, Philippines — An elderly woman died and 30 families were displaced in a fire that broke out in a slum area in Quezon City yesterday.

The charred body of the victim, a woman in her 70s, was recovered beneath the debris of her shanty in Barangay Balon-Bato.

City fire marshal Senior Superintendent Aristotle Banaga said firefighters retrieved the victim’s remains during mopping-up operations.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)’s National Capital Region field office said the fire started at around 4:13 a.m. and reached fourth alarm, which prompted a response from at least 27 fire trucks.

The blaze destroyed several shanties beneath a bridge along Quirino Highway.

Firefighters doused the flames at around 8:08 a.m., the BFP said.

Banaga said containing the fire was a challenge as the shanties were built close together and the fire hydrant was some distance away.

An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.