AT LEAST five people, including three children aged eight to 14, were killed in a fire that engulfed a residential area in Tondo, Manila on Tuesday.
Around 30 families were left homeless by the blaze.
FIRE VICTIM Personnel of a funeral home carry the remains of one of the victims of the fire that hit Tondo, Manila. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA
An initial report by the Manila Fire Department of the Bureau of Fire (BFP) said the victims, who are yet to be named, were trapped on the fourth floor of a residential building at the corner of Carlos P. Garcia and Sampaloc streets.
Fire investigators said strong winds caused the rapid spread of the fire, thus preventing the trapped residents from exiting.
The report said the fire broke out at 1:47 p.m. and reached the third alarm. It was declared under control at 3:04 p.m.