Tutuban mall fire now under control

MANILA -- After over 36 hours, the fire that razed a mall in Manila's shopping district of Divisoria was finally declared under control on Thursday, authorities said.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the National Capital Region said the fire that hit Tutuban Mall in Claro M. Recto Avenue was declared under control around 10 a.m., Thursday.

The BFP earlier feared that the fire may last for three days.

Authorities are yet to give an official statement on the incident as operations and investigations are still on-going to determine the cause of the fire.

The National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that around 12:41 a.m. Wednesday, the fire started in the Cluster Building 1 of Tutuban Mall, a three-storey commercial structure made mostly of concrete construction materials.

Then around 5:38 a.m., the fire alarm level reached Task Force Delta, which calls for the regional director of the BFP to act as ground commander.

According to the ocular inspection of an arson team, the fire was traced to have started at the mid-portion of Stall no. C-18 in the ground floor, which is occupied by a certain Maria Theresa Chen. The fire then spread out to the entire building.

The NDRRMC said the fire has injured six fire personnel and volunteers while eight others suffered from suffocation or had difficulty in breathing.

Most of the injuries were wounds and lacerations on the hands of the fire personnel and volunteers.

The NDRRMC said there was reportedly a water shortage from the fire hydrants around the site but authorities have coordinated with water provider Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)