At least six people died while two others were injured in a fire that hit a residential area in Tondo, Manila, Thursday morning.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Manila identified the fatalities as Nathalie Nicole Sorbito, 17; Shane Bernadette Sorbito, 16; Elizabeth Mendoza, 48; Janet Rosales, 49; Eugenio Pacia, 48; and Remedios Pacia, 70.
Investigation showed that the fire originated on the second floor of a residential building in Barangay 89, part of Tondo District 1 that will be placed under a 48-hour “hard lockdown” starting May 3 in light of the community transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Eight other buildings were affected by the blaze that reached the first alarm at around 6:38 a.m. and was put out at around 7:52 a.m.
The BFP-Manila said the fire rendered around 20 families homeless.
According to the Manila Public Information Office (PIO), the affected families were temporarily sheltered at the Barangay 91 covered court.
They will be allowed to stay there while the hard lockdown is enforced.
The city government will provide them with hot meals, as well as relief goods consisting of rice and canned goods, the Manila PIO said. Fire investigators pegged the estimated worth of damages at around P150,000.
Probers have yet to determine the cause of fire. (Minka Tiangco)
