Fires hit PGH, market, school in Manila

Fires hit PGH, market, school in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Fires broke out at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and a market in Manila, later spreading to a school on Saturday night.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) responded to a fire that broke out at the PGH along Taft Avenue, prompting the evacuation of over 100 patients from the emergency room at around 11:16 p.m. The blaze was put out 20 minutes later.

The fire started in a storage room near the emergency room of the hospital, which was under renovation, according to BFP-Manila deputy district marshal FSSupt. Leo Andiso.

“The fire occurred in the hallway outside the emergency room, so it did not affect the interior of the emergency room,” he said.

In March, patients were also evacuated due to a fire that started in the hospital’s audio-visual room.

The BFP has yet to identify the estimated cost of property damage.

A fifth-alarm fire also broke out at a commercial area and spread to the 10-story building of Paco Catholic School at around 8 p.m.

The school said that it was conducting a program for high school students when the fire started.

The most affected areas of the school were the fourth to sixth floors, which included the laboratories and cooking rooms.

The fire was put out at around 1:26 a.m. yesterday.

Members of the disaster risk reduction and management office in Manila aided Cherraline Rufil, 23, who suffered an undisclosed injury.

The BFP reported that the fire destroyed approximately P1.6 million worth of properties.

No casualties were recorded while arson probers have yet to identify what caused the fire in both incidents.