A man died while two others were injured in a fire that hit a residential area at Market 3, Barangay North Bay Boulevard North (NBBN) in Navotas City before dawn Friday. About 700 families were rendered homeless.
Supt. Bartolome Biliran, Navotas City fire marshal, identified the fatality as James Bantasan, 24.
Biliran said the victim may have been drunk and asleep while the fire was raging. It was learned that he had a drinking spree with his cousins the night before.
Two people were also injured in the blaze, Biliran said.
Data from the Navotas City Bureau of Fire Protection showed that the blaze razed about 200 houses. Biliran pegged the worth of damage at about P1 million.
The fire reportedly started in the house of a certain Wekwek at around 2:27 a.m. and was put out at around 6:14 a.m., Biliran said.
Biliran said the blaze spread quickly because the houses were made of light materials.
Residents who lost their homes are temporarily sheltered at Barangay NBBN basketball court.
Investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire. (Minka Tiangco)
