MANILA, Philippines — A man and his niece died after getting trapped in a fire that broke out at their house in Tondo, Manila on Sunday.
Authorities said that after initially escaping the fire with his son, the 57-year-old man returned to the burning house to rescue his 42-year-old niece.
They got trapped in the three-story house along Dagupan street in Barangay 48, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.
Joseph Pua, 63, said to be the owner of the house, reportedly suffered second-degree burns.
Nine fire trucks were deployed to contain the fire. Neighbors also helped extinguish the blaze by throwing pails of water onto the burning house.
The fire displaced 10 families. Damage to property was placed at P50,000.
In Quezon City, two people were injured and around 53 families were left homeless after a fire struck a residential area in Barangay New Zaniga on Sunday.
The BFP’s National Capital Region field unit said a 34-year-old firefighter was treated by first-aid responders for a laceration in his right elbow.
A 70-year-old woman received treatment for dizziness.
The affected residents are taking shelter at an evacuation center.