At least two people were injured while more than 100 families lost their homes in two fire incidents in Quezon City Tuesday afternoon.
More than P5 million went up in smoke in the fire that hit the Department of Agriculture (DA) headquarters on Elliptical Road, according to DA secretary Proceso Alcala.
The fire, which occurred at 1:30 p.m., damaged three offices at the DA headquarters.
"More or less P5 million ang na-estimate ng firemen (Firefighters initially estimated P5 million in damage to property)," Alcala said in an interview on dzBB radio.
He said the fire damaged the DA's Livestock Development Council and National Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
An employee of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was injured after being hit on the head with debris, according to report by Rowena Salvacion on radio dzBB.
Residents also claimed two children were missing in the fire, but firefighters did not find remains when they searched the houses.
The fire reached Task Force Charlie and snarled traffic in the area.
Firefighters had to leave the site to refill their water tanks to get back to the scene.
At least 100 families affected by the fire stayed in the streets near the DA and the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center.
Arson investigators are looking into claims that a candle left unattended caused the fire.
Meanwhile, at least one person was injured in a second fire that razed a house in Quezon City's Cubao district.
Radio dzBB's Benjie Liwanag Jr. reported the injured, initially identified only as Berto, suffered second-degree burns and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
The fire started at 3:08 p.m. and reached the fourth alarm before it was put out at 3:58 p.m.
A separate report on dzRH radio said the fire started at 6 Seattle St. corner Aurora Blvd. in Bgy. Kaunlaran and spread to nearby houses. - KBK,
