5 dead in Navotas fire

As many as 300 families saw their homes go up in smoke following a fire that claimed five lives and injured at least two in Barangay Bagumbayan, Navotas City Monday evening.

Reaching the alarm Task Force Alpha, the fire started at around 4 p.m. and was only declared out nearly half an hour past 9 p.m.

Fire authorities said it took them long to extinguish the conflagration because of water supply interruption and the roads leading to the blaze that were too narrow for firetrucks.

The San Ildefonso Parish and Navotas Centennial Park, the latter a former Covid-19 facility, served as evacuation facilities for the affected residents.

The fatalities were identified by the Bureau of Fire Protection as Asuncion Tongco Gonzales, 50; Teresa Lopez, 40; Darlene Baluyot, 19; Diorella Gonzales, 18; and two-year-old Thirdy Lopez.

Listed injured by the BFP were 51-year-old Carlos Solidan (head lacerations) and Josefina Sarate, 64.

"We were only able to save ourselves," Teresita Rosales said.

"I don't know yet how we can recover. Even my store was burned. Nothing was left for us," Sylvia Buenaventura chimed in.

Many other residents rued not being able to salvage their belongings.