Close to a thousand families pack evacuation centers after Mandaluyong's Addition Hills fire

Close to a thousand families who were affected by the fire that hit Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City packed evacuation centers in search of  temporary shelter.

According to Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, implementing safety protocols such as wearing of face mask and physical distancing inside the centers proved to be a challenge to social workers.

It can be recalled that the barangay was placed under strict lockdown due to the high number of COVID-19 cases.

So far, the barangay has already recorded 124 infections, including seven deaths.

Some fire victims flocked to a corner of one evacuation center and sifted through donated clothes as many of them lost all their belongings to the blaze.

“Wala kami nailabas, ‘yong suot lang namin,” a resident said.

With the incident, some evacuees fear that they might be infected due to their situation inside the centers.

“Natatakot na rin po kami na baka madamay po kami sa COVID,” a resident said.

“Nandiyan na ‘yong COVID. Kagaya ng sitwasyon namin ngayon, wala ng, hindi na namin maano ‘yong distansiya, face mask wala na. Takot din,” another resident added.

Meanwhile, barangay officials are planning to immediately transfer the evacuees to a bigger evacuation center.

They are also studying if the evacuees should undergo rapid testing anew.

“Hindi ko pa po alam kung ano ang gagawin ng ating lungsod ay magkaroon po tayo dito ng isang rapid test ulit and maybe I can suggest it to the mayor kasi nga po nagkaroon ng dikit-dikit na mga tao eh,” barangay chairperson Carlito Cerval said.

Moreover, amid the threat, the barangay continued to implement curfew so residents will not loiter around the evacuation center. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News