Woman dies, 200 families lose homes in Malate fire

BY ANDREA KATE ARO * NOREEN JAZUL

A 69-year-old woman was found dead while 200 families were displaced after a fire hit a residential area in Malate, Manila before dawn Tuesday.

Fire investigators identified the victim as Lyndia Montero Bernal.

According to the initial report, the fire started at the ground floor level of a three-storey residential establishment on Pablo Ocampo St. corner Leveriza St. at 3:19 a.m. and reached the first alarm.

The blaze reached the second alarm six minutes after it was reported and escalated to the third alarm at around 3:30 a.m.

The fire was declared under control at around 4:50 a.m. and was extinguished at 6:15 a.m.

Around 80 houses were affected by the blaze.

Investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire and the damage to the properties.