(Updated) Two kids killed in Manila fire, eyewitness says

(Updated)Two children were killed on Thursday afternoon after a massive fire razed an informal settler community and several establishments along Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila, a resident’s eyewitness account said. Eliza Inocenio told GMA News’ Connie Sison that her two children, aged three and one, were trapped inside their home. Inocencio is a resident of Oroquieta compound, which houses 2,300 residents. The Manila government had already asked neighboring cities to send firefighters to assist in putting out the fire, the report said. There is only one available fire hydrant near the area. The fire reportedly began at approximately 4:39 in the afternoon on one of the houses along Oroquieta Street in Quiapo, Manila. Flames immediately engulfed the said structure, supposedly by occupied a police officer, because it was reportedly made of light materials. But the Manila Fire Department refused to confirm nor deny this information since it was still awaiting official confirmation. Besides causing traffic in the area, the blaze also temporarily halted operations of the Recto station of the Light Rail Transit-Line 2. However, the whole train system – covering the Legarda station to Santolan station – was unaffected. The blaze also reached the wall of the Manila City Jail, prompting the city's fire department to assign firefighters within the structure to prevent it from spreading to the actual jail premises. Prisoner evacuation became unnecessary after firefighters undertook measures to protect the city jail. Damage to the property is still being determined, as of posting time. - RJAB, Jr./GMANews.TV