Fire hits residential area in Makati

(Updated 1:30 p.m.) Fire of undetermined origin razed a squatters' compound in Makati City's Guadalupe district early Tuesday afternoon, snarling traffic in the area. The fire at the Laperal Compound started around 12:07 p.m. and reached the fifth alarm in less than 10 minutes, radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported. A Twitter update by fire volunteer group TXTFire Philippines said the fire had reached Task Force Bravo as of 12:20 p.m. But as of 12:40 p.m., the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) Metrobase said the fire had reached the general alarm. In a report aired over GMA News TV, radio dzBB's Alan Gatus said that although the fire has subsided significantly, the situation remains to be in general alarm as of 2 p.m. The MMDA had earlier advised motorists in the Guadalupe area to take alternate routes other than Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). However, Gatus said that two lanes on the southbound part of EDSA have been opened to the public since some of the the firetrucks that were previously parked there have already left. While no one was initially reported injured, many residents tried to save their belongings as the fire destroyed shanties made of light materials. Firefighters had a hard time penetrating the compound because of the narrow streets there. Laperal Compound, located behind the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Guadalupe, had been the site of several large fires in past years. Tuesday's fire snarled traffic in nearby areas, including the southbound portion of EDSA, the report said. Many Metro Manila residents are passing through EDSA to go to provinces in Southern Luzon to spend the Holy Week there.— with a report by Kimberly Jane Tan/LBG/RSJ, GMA News