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Fire hits residential area near Makati Medical Center
(Updated 2:15 p.m.) — A fire of undetermined origin hit an informal settlers' residential area near a major hospital in Makati City Thursday morning, slowing traffic in the area and affecting 300 families.
The Makati City government said the fire near the corner of Ayala Avenue and Gil Puyat Street in front of Makati Medical Center reached the general alarm as of 10:45 a.m.
Under a general alarm, all available firefighters in the area are summoned to help put out the flames.
"As of 10:45 AM, ongoing fire (general alarm) at Ayala Ave. cor. Gil Puyat infront of MMC," it said on its Twitter account.
The fire was declared under control at 11:30 a.m. according to a report from Balitanghali on Thursday, quoting Makati City Information Department.
Earlier, a personnel of MMC told GMA News Online the fire was in front of the hospital's emergency department on Amorsolo Street, adding the fire was large but "safe ang area [at] 'di damay ang ospital."
Fire engulfs 300 homes of informal settlers a few steps away from Makati Medical Center. Roy Mambo
The fire was declared under control at 11:30 a.m. according to a report from Balitanghali on Thursday, quoting Makati City Information Department.
As of 11:30 AM, fire under control at Ayala Ave. cor. Gil Puyat infront of Makati Medical Center.
— Makati Info (@MakatiInfo) July 11, 2013
Earlier, a personnel of MMC told GMA News Online the fire was in front of the hospital's emergency department on Amorsolo Street, adding the fire was large but "safe ang area [at] 'di damay ang ospital."
She added that MMC at that time did not plan to evacuate its patients since the situation was under control with fire trucks putting out the blaze.
When asked if smoke from the fire entered hospital premises, she replied that it hadn't and the overall situation remains calm.
A report by radio dzBB's Glen Juego, however, said some patients were evacuated from MMC as the fire continued to rage.
May inilalabas na raw na pasyente mula sa Makati Med according to some friends inside the hospital. #Fire
— Glen Juego (@glenjuego) July 11, 2013
A separate report by dzBB's Carlo Mateo said firefighters had a hard time battling the blaze as the houses there were tightly-bunched and made of light materials.
Meanwhile, a report from Balitanghali's Dante Perello said that firefighters had to spray water on MMC's facade to prevent the hospital from going ablaze in case the fire crosses over.
Perello estimated the fire to be just around 20 steps away from the hospital premises.
He added the smoke was very thick and the wind was blowing it toward the hospital, forcing the hospital's standby emergency team to move its location.
1 missing, 3 rescued; 300 families lose homes
At least one child was reported missing in the wake of the fire that hit a residential area in front of MMC.
Three people were rescued after being trapped in their houses and were brought to a hospital for treatment, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported.
City officials are also considering an area under the Skyway ramp to accommodate the families affected by the fire, the report added.
Also, the dzBB report said at least 300 families may have been affected by the fire.
UPDATE: 3 residente mula sa nasusunog na residential area malapit sa Makati Medical Center, narescue! Tatlong daang pamilya, nasunugan!
— dzbbGMA (@dzbbGMA) July 11, 2013
The fire was put out after 1 p.m., dzBB added.
UPDATE! Sunog sa Botanical Garden malapit sa Makati Medical Center, fire out na! Sunog naman sa Brgy. San Antonio, under control naman!
— dzbbGMA (@dzbbGMA) July 11, 2013
Fire hits another area in Makati
While firefighters were busy battling the blaze in front of MMC, a fire hit another site in the city Thursday morning.
The second fire at the corner of Kamagong and Bagtikan Streets in Barangay San Antonio reached Task Force Alpha as of 11 a.m., radio dzBB reported.
According to a report from Balitanghali's Jay Zabale, first and second alarms were raised at 10:34 a.m. due to the fire on the sixth floor of the Doña Guadalupe Building.
The sixth floor is owned by 90-year-old Olympia Puen who had to be rescued after suffocating.
According to Mary Ann Puen, daughter-in-law of the victim, the smell of burning paper came from the storage room.
“Galing ako sa taas. Pagbaba ko nangangamoy usok na... Akala ko naman wala lang. Maya-maya ng konti pagpasok ko ng kwarto ... nakita ko lumalakas na 'yung usok. Doon na ako nag-hysterical,” Puen said.
The fire was declared under control at 11:47 a.m.
The fire was declared under control at 11:47 a.m.
EMERGENCY UPDATE: As of 11:47 AM, fire under control at Kamagong corner Bagtikan St., Brgy. San Antonio
— Makati Info (@MakatiInfo) July 11, 2013
Investigators are still determining what caused the fire. — with a report from Andrei Medina/RSJ/KG, GMA News
