A 42-year-old jeepney driver died while two others sustained minor injuries during a fire that left 600 families homeless in Baseco Compound, Port Area, Manila Tuesday night.
Police identified the fatality as Gino Escobedo, a jeepney driver, native of Bicol, and resident of the area.
The fire, that reached Task Force Bravo an hour after it was reported, damaged about 300 establishments.
Fire investigators pegged the estimated cost of damage at around P2 million.
Fire officials said the blaze started on the second floor of a two-story structure in the area at around 11:15 p.m. It escalated to fifth alarm after 12 minutes.
Firefighters declared the fire under control less than two hours later. It was finally put out at about 2:48 a.m. (Minka Tiangco)
