Pasay fire victims to greet New Year in evacuation centers

Thousands of Pasay City residents displaced by Wednesday's fire there are likely to greet the New Year in evacuation sites. At least two sites - the covered court of the BLTB Bus Line along EDSA and court along Gamban Street - have been designated as temporary shelters for the victims, according to the Pasay City Social Welfare Department. "[Pero] baka almost a week pa sila doon kaya baka hanggang bagong taon na sila [It's likely they will celebrate the New Year in the evacuation sites]," social worker Grace Basco told GMANews.TV. Video courtesy of David Junsay via YouScoop The affected families - 1,132 all in all, or 3,961 residents - were from Barangays 143 and 144, which are located at the boundary of Pasay and Makati cities. While some of the affected people had sought temporary settlement in the houses of relatives, most chose to remain in the evacuation sites, where the government is rationing off water, food, clothing, and medical supplies.

Two people were injured in the fire that reportedly started inside a kitchen of a house along Bonifacio Street in Bangkal village, Makati City. A general alarm was raised before firefighters put out the blaze around 1:30 p.m. or some three hours after it started. - Mark Dalan Merueñas/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV