Defective charger leaves 15 families homeless

One person was injured while 15 families were left homeless in a fire that was caused by a defective mobile phone charger on Tuesday night in Manila.

Arson investigators from the Bureau of Fire Protection said the incident broke out at 10:13 p.m. at the third floor of the house owned by Silahis Pichay at 1605 O-Este Alvarez, Barangay 267, Zone 24 in Tondo.

The investigators said the charger overheated.

The blaze reached the first alarm at 10:15 p.m. and rose to third alarm at 10:45 p.m. It was declared under control at 1:20 a.m. after 25 fire trucks responded at the scene.

Injured was Catalino Masangkay, 30, who was trying to salvage some of his belongings during the blaze.