Thousands of displaced families crammed into Delpan Evacuation Center after fire broke out at Isla Puting Bato in Brgy. 20 in Tondo, Manila.
The fire escalated to 5th alarm which devastated over 1,000 structures and displaced approximately 2,000 families. According to local residents, the fire began in Purok 3 at around 8:00 AM which escalated on nearby areas of Purok 1, 2 and 4. Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management declared fire out at 4:07 PM.
Several residents navigate through dark, smoke-filled alleys, hoping to salvage what remains of their belongings from the fire-damaged houses. Others are seen collecting metal scraps from the charred wires.
Some residents have also set up makeshift shelters and tents along the road near the alley leading to their homes, hesitant to overcrowd the evacuation center due to its dire conditions. Many are in urgent need of food, medicine, and clothing as some were unable to save even a single belonging from the flames.
Meanwhile, the Manila Department of Social Welfare said that the Delpan Evacuation Center is unable to accommodate all 2,000 affected families. They are currenty searching for additional evacuation centers to provide temporary shelter for the fire victims.
As of writing, authorities are still counting and documenting the number of evacuees in the evacuation center.
