A fast-moving fire swept through a residential neighborhood in Barangay San Jose, Mandaluyong City early Monday, injuring five people, including two minors, and destroying dozens of homes.
Reports from the Bureau of Fire Protection said the blaze broke out at approximately 6:12 a.m. in Sitio 4, catching residents as they were starting their day.
The fire spread rapidly through the densely packed area, where many structures were built from light, combustible materials.
Authorities raised a second alarm at 6:28 a.m. and a third alarm at 7:34 a.m. as the inferno intensified, requiring additional fire engines and personnel from across the city.
Firefighters battled the flames for over three hours before the blaze was declared fully extinguished at 9:17 a.m.
Five people were treated for various injuries sustained during the evacuation and firefighting efforts. Among the victims were an 11-year-old boy with abrasions on his left knee and a 16-year-old boy who sustained a laceration to his left foot.
Three adults were also treated — a 29-year-old man who suffered a deep laceration on his left forearm, a 36-year-old man with burn blisters on his right hand, and a 20-year-old man who sustained abdominal abrasions.
First responders said all victims were in stable condition after receiving medical treatment. Arson investigators are currently working to determine the cause of the fire, while assessment teams remain on-site to evaluate the total property damage and the number of families displaced by the incident.