Nearly 600 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) safely returned to their cells in Manila City Jail after a fire broke out near their detention facility in Santa Cruz, Manila, on Thursday evening.
The blaze, which affected hundreds of residents, was declared under control at 6:24 AM.
According to a report by Boy Gonzales, the fire started at 9:41 PM in the Playground Compound along Quezon Blvd, Brgy. 310, and quickly spread, reaching the fifth alarm.
The strong blaze from the residential area prompted the evacuation of PDLs in the south sector due to thick smoke.
Authorities confirmed that two residents were injured, including a senior citizen who sustained burns and a 25-year-old who had difficulty breathing.
In total, around 250 homes were destroyed by the fire, displacing approximately 500 families, or 1,500 individuals. Affected residents sought refuge at an evacuation center, calling for additional assistance due to the loss of nearly all their belongings.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, with the estimated damage to property reaching around four million pesos.
