30 families lose homes in predawn Tondo fire

(Updated 4:55 a.m.) At least 30 families lost their homes in a fire that gutted a residential area in Manila's Tondo district before dawn Tuesday. The fire along Juan Luna Street started shortly after midnight Monday, radio dzBB's Paulo Santos reported. Chief Inspector Bonifacio Carta of the Manila Fire Department said no one was initially reported injured in the fire. The investigation, so far, pointed to a stove explosion as the cause of the fire, which had quickly spread to at least 10 houses. The fire reached the third alarm but was placed under control in 30 minutes. An updated dzBB report said arson investigators initially estimated the damage to property at P1 million. — DVM, GMA News