Tondo fire leaves 100 families homeless

MANILA, Philippines - At least 100 families will spend their Christmas in evacuation centers after their homes were destroyed in a fire in Tondo, Manila before dawn yesterday. 

The blaze reportedly started at the house of a barangay official on Capulong street at past 4 a.m.

Barangay 108 kagawad Boy Albay said they all attended the traditional pre-dawn mass and went home to find out that nothing was left of their property. 

He said they made sure that all their appliances were unplugged when they left, but arson investigators are looking at faulty wiring as a possible cause.

Other reports said the fire was caused by a mobile phone left charging overnight.

Fire Officer 3 Oliver Sison, of the Manila Fire Bureau, said the fire reached Task Force Alpha and was put out at around 7:34 a.m.

No one was reported injured in the incident but a certain Erlinda Manzo, 53, was given medical assistance after she had difficulty breathing.

The fire destroyed property estimated at P1 million. – With Ghio Ong