SIX persons, including two minors and a senior citizen, were killed in another fire that struck an urban poor community in Tondo, Manila on Thursday morning, April 30.
A fireman and three others were also injured in the incident.
Fire Senior Superintendent Geranndie Agoos, district fire marshall of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Manila, said the two minors were siblings whose mother went out to buy necessities.
The fire, which was tapped at 6:37 a.m. Thursday, hit a community behind the Pritil Market. Fire out was declared at 7:52 a.m., or more than an hour later.
At least 20 families were affected and are now being housed in a covered court in the area, Agoos said.
He said they were looking at faulty electrical wiring or open flame as the possible cause of fire. Investigation is still ongoing.
"Bagama't tayo ay nasa gitna ng pandemic, hindi po maiiwasan na sa loob ng tahanan tayo ay gagamit ng electrically-charged appliances, gagamit ng apoy o open flame," he said in a television interview.
"Lagi pong paalala ng BFP 'wag po natin iiwan ang open flame," he added.
It was the third fire to hit Manila during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period.
On April 14, at least 40 families lost they homes in a fire that struck Delpan area sa Binondo district.
On April 18, 2,000 families were displaced by a fire in Happy Land, Barangay 105 in Tondo, Manila.
Manila City and the rest of Metro Manila are among the areas that are still under ECQ due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. (SunStar Philippines)