Navotas fire kills 1, guts hundreds of homes

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 18) — One person died after a fire erupted in a residential area in North Bay Boulevard North (NBBN) in Navotas City early Friday morning, Mayor Toby Tiangco confirmed.

He said around 783 homes were razed by the fire, which reached the fifth alarm. The affected families are staying at the barangay's basketball court.

Navotas City Fire Marshal Supt. Bartolome Biliran said the fire started around 2:30 a.m. and quickly climbed to the fifth alarm within 20 minutes. The houses in the area are made up of light materials so fire spread rapidly. It was declared fire out before 6 a.m.

"Pagdating namin malaki na at nag-spread na ang sunog dahil made of light materials ang mga bahay, kaya medyo nahirapan kami," he said.

He said they have yet to determine the cause of the fire.