PRC: 2,500 residents affected by QC fire

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 2) — A total of 2,500 individuals or 500 families were affected after a fire engulfed a residential area in Barangay Samson, Quezon City on Wednesday, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said.

According to the PRC, the affected individuals were brought to temporary evacuation centers at the Apolonio Tennis Court and Masambong Covered court in Quezon City. An ambulance team was also deployed.

The PRC also said 15 of its firefighters rescued a four-member family, ages 28 to 57 years old, from their compound.

However, the local Bureau of Fire Protection has yet to report the tally of injuries and casualties.

Citing initial reports based on witness accounts, Senior Superintendent Aristotle Bañaga, Quezon City District fire marshal, said an electric appliance explosion caused the fire, which started on the second floor of a residential building.

The BFP received the report of the fire incident at 2:07 p.m. It was then raised to a third alarm at 2:42 p.m. and the blaze was extinguished at 6:02 p.m.

Authorities are investigating the fire incident including the cost of damage to property.