MANILA, Philippines — A massive fire broke out yesterday in Tondo, Manila, leaving around 1,500 families or 4,500 residents homeless, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.
The blaze, which lasted six hours, destroyed a residential building and nearby houses at the Aroma compound temporary housing complex in Barangay 105.
Three helicopters – a Black Hawk, a UH1H and a Sokol – helped extinguish flames with water from Manila Bay.
Thirty-two BFP firetrucks, volunteer firefighting groups, a special rescue force truck and an ambulance responded.
Mayor Isko Moreno went to the area to supervise firefighting efforts.
Two men aged 34 suffered minor injuries. A cat bit a toddler during firefighting operations.
In September last year, nine tenement buildings at the Aroma compound were destroyed by fire.