3 dead after tree hits shanties in Manila  

MANILA, Philippines — Three persons died and several others were injured after a tree fell on houses along a creek in Manila at dawn yesterday.

The fatalities were Edcel Lansiola, 42; Jomar Portillo, 28, and his son, two-year-old John Mark Portillo. They were pronounced dead at the Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

The tree collapsed and fell on shanties along Estero de Magdalena along Recto Avenue, Barangay 294 at past 12:20 a.m., according to a report from the Manila Police District Meisic station.

Personnel of the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and fire volunteers rushed to the site to rescue the victims who were trapped in collapsed houses.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority sent a crane, a tow truck and ambulance to help in the rescue efforts along with the Philippine Red Cross and the Manila city government.

Rescue operations for people trapped in the rubble lasted for over seven hours, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Reports said at least five persons were injured in the incident. Among them were Reynaldo Caparangan and his daughter Katelyn, 13, Alvin Portillo, 32, and Gecalyn Villorigo, 22.