2 dead, 5 hurt after fire hits residential area in Caloocan City

Two persons died and five others were injured after a fire hit a residential neighborhood in Barangay 81, Caloocan City on Wednesday afternoon. 

In an update, Caloocan City Fire Station identified the fatalities as a 16-year-old girl and a 62-year-old man.

The injured individuals suffered from laceration, abrasion, and electrocution.

A total of 120 people, or 90 families, were affected after the fire razed 70 houses and establishments, according to Vonne Aquino’s report in “Saksi."

“Dali-dali kaming umuwi dito sa bahay. Ngayon, naabutan ng asawa, nandito na po yung apoy sa eskinita,” said Carishiela Cruz who also lost their earned savings to the fire.

(We quickly ran to our house. But my husband saw that the fire had already reached the alleyway.) 

One person was also reported missing because of the fire. 

“Yung pamilya, na ngayon nandito sa barangay, anak niya kanina pa hinahanap - babae na 16 years old,” said Barangay 81 chairperson Lerma Coronel. 

(The family is already in the barangay hall and they’ve been looking for a 16-year-old girl.)
Among the four persons who were hurt were a fire volunteer who was electrocuted but is now in good condition, the report said. 

The Bureau of Fire Protection said the fire, which reached the second alarm, spread easily because the houses were made of light materials. 

The fire was extinguished at around 10 p.m.  

Investigation of the cause of the fire is still ongoing. Damage to property was estimated at P300,000. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News