Report: 500 houses destroyed in Muntinlupa fire

Some 500 houses were destroyed in a fire that hit a residential area in Muntinlupa City Thursday night, with up to 2,000 families facing a homeless Christmas. Radio dzBB reported early Friday the fire struck in Cupang village in Mandaluyong City, causing tension among residents there. The fire started at 7:15 p.m. and reached the general alarm before 8:54 p.m. Firefighters finally placed it under control shortly after midnight.
No one was initially reported hurt in the blaze, which was declared out before 2 a.m. Friday. Many of the houses were made of light materials. Radio dzBB’s Roland Bola reported arson investigators are verifying claims that a 48-year-old mentally deranged man may have started the fire. Several affected residents felt doubly depressed as the fire occurred a little more than a day before Christmas Day. Muntinlupa City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro ordered the affected families temporarily sheltered at the city’s covered court and at the Cupang Elementary School. — LBG, GMANews.TV