Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. ordered the Bureau of Fire Protection to investigate incident on Thursday night where several houses near a creek in Recto, Manila collapsed after a tree fell on them.

In a statement on Friday, Abalos directed the BFP to submit its recommendation as soon as possible to his office to prevent similar incidents from occurring anew.

“I gave the BFP a directive to investigate the incident and I expect them to submit their report and recommendations in the coming days,’’ Abalos said.

Initial reports from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office disclosed that three persons died and nine others were injured from the incident that occurred at Alvarado Street in Barangay 294.

The fatalities included a two-year-old child.

Aside from the BFP and the MDRRMO, other fire volunteer groups responded to the incident and assisted in bringing the affected residents to safer grounds.

Abalos sympathized with the families of the victims and instructed the local officials to provide the necessary assistance to them.

“We condole with the family of the victims of this tradegy. We also call on the local officials to ensure that the affected residents are provided with the assistance and to do everything to make sure that similar tragedies of this nature do not happen or occur again,’’ Abalos said.

The DILG chief also commended the BFP and the MRRDMO for their immediate response to the incident.