Fire destroys thousands of homes in Manila's largest slum

(Dan Tri) - A large fire that lasted nearly 8 hours burned down a coastal town in the capital of the Philippines on November 24, leaving at least 2,000 families homeless.

A terrible fire broke out in a slum in Tondo, Manila on November 24 (Photo: AFP).

Drone footage from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office shows the raging fire completely engulfing crowded makeshift homes in Isla Puting Bato, a shantytown in Tondo, Manila.

The Manila Fire Department reported that the fire broke out at 8 a.m. on November 24 and lasted until about 4 p.m. According to the source, about 1,000 such temporary houses were burned and about 8,000 people were displaced in this fire. There are still no specific reports on the number of casualties.

Photos show people escaping the fire on makeshift rafts while others scrambled to salvage their belongings.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, but fires in Manila's slums are often caused by faulty electrical wiring or gas cylinders.

Isla Puting Bato is located in Tondo district, Manila's largest slum with about 654,220 people living in squalid makeshift homes on crowded streets, near a bustling commercial port.

Elvira Valdemoro, a 58-year-old Manila resident and shop owner, was devastated by the extensive damage. "I feel terrible because we have no livelihood and no home. Everything is gone. We don't know how we will eat. We are in a very bad situation and it's almost Christmas," she said.

Manila Mayor Maria Lacuna-Pangan visited Isla Puting Bato on November 25 and spoke to residents. "Please be patient. We will continue to come to help. No one wants this to happen," Lacuna-Pangan told residents.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/hoa-hoan-thieu-rui-hang-ngan-ngoi-nha-tai-khu-o-chuot-lon-nhat-manila-20241126151928558.htm