Man, son dead in Malate fire

A man and his son died in a three-hour fire that gutted more than 100 houses in Malate, Manila yesterday.

Abelardo Salonga, 79, and his son Jimmy, 47, were trapped in the bathroom of their house, said Superintendent Antonio Razan Jr., fire marshal.

Jimmy tried to save his father, investigators said.

The blaze started at the second floor of the house owned by Bobby Fernandez and Misael Pamposana along Camia street at around 3:53 p.m.

Razon said the fire, which destroyed P2.7 million worth of property, could have been caused by an illegal power connection.

The fire alert was raised to Task Force Alpha at around 4:06 p.m., meaning fire brigades in all of Metro Manila were called to respond.

Razan said the fire destroyed 125 houses, displacing around 250 families, before it was contained at around 7 p.m.

A heavy downpour forced the fire victims to seek shelter at nearby establishments. Victoria Court allowed some families to stay along its driveway.

Meanwhile, around 500 families were left homeless by a fire that destroyed Temporary Housing’s six-story Building 28 in Tondo.

The fire started at past 3 p.m. and was declared under control three hours later, Razan said.

Firefighters pegged the property damage caused by the fire at P3 million.

No casualties were reported in the Tondo fire, which was reportedly caused by a short circuit.