Fire hits residential area in Quiapo; 5 people missing

Five people were reported missing after a fire hit a residential area on Arlegui Street in Quiapo, Manila on Thursday, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.

The five missing include twins aged 12 years old and three of their relatives, according to Jonathan Andal's report on GMA News' Unang Balita.

The mother of the twins, Lalaine Perito, said the two were sleeping at the house of her mother when the fire incident happened.

According to her, her mother tried to save the kids but a liquefied petroleum gas tank exploded.

“Nanggaling din sa baba ng tinitirhan nila 'yung apoy. So parang na-steam na sila doon. Noong kinukuha na sila ng mother ko para ma-save ay sumabog na yung super kalan,” Perito said.

(The fire came from below. It was like they were steamed there. When my mother tried to save them, the gas tank exploded.)

Aside from her two children, Perito said among those missing are her sibling, her sibling's spouse and youngest child.

According to the report, responders have yet to access the premises of the burned houses because the place is still hot and the fire is not yet totally out.

Based on BFP’s report, the fire started at 2:34 a.m. and reached the third alarm level at 2:50 a.m. The fire was declared under control at 4:15 a.m.

In an update, the BFP said the fire was declared out at 8:10 a.m.

At least 10 fire trucks and three ambulances responded to the area, the BFP said.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. —Joviland Rita/KBK/RSJ, GMA Integrated News