Divisoria fire finally out after 13 hours; damage at P10M

After more than 13 hours, a fire that hit at least four buildings in Manila's Divisoria district was finally declared out Monday afternoon.

 

Firefighters declared the fire at the corner of Tabora and M. de Santos Streets out at 1:58 p.m., radio dzBB's Rodil Vega reported.

 

The report quoted arson investigators as saying that their initial estimate of structural damage caused by the fire was at P10 million.

 

An initial investigation showed four buildings were damaged in the fire, one of them already condemned.

 

Arson investigators are verifying reports the fire started when a customer was testing a firecracker at the ground floor of one of the buildings.

 

At least four people received medical treatment, one of them for dizziness and three for minor injuries.

 

The fire reached Task Force Charlie before being placed under control past 10 a.m.

 

Bureau of Fire Protection officials said they had a hard time fighting the fire due to the combustible materials kept inside the buildings, and because of the narrow streets. — RSJ, GMA News