250 families homeless after fire hits residential area near Malacañang

At least 250 families lost their homes to a three-hour fire in San Miguel district in Manila early Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Roel Jeremy Diaz, Bureau of Fire's regional director in Metro Manila, said fire struck a residential area in Barangay 645, Zone 67 at 3:29 a.m.

A radio dzBB report said the area is near the Malacañan Palace.

Diaz said the fire started in the middle of the residential area and quickly spread because majority of the houses were made of light materials.

He said firemen had a hard time dousing the fire because the path leading to the area was narrow.

The fire was declared under control shortly before 7 a.m.

Diaz said at least 100 houses were gutted by the fire. The estimated damage from the fire was P2 million.

Two persons were also hurt in the incident. —report from Mav Gonzales/Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/ALG, GMA News