Residents affected by the fire at Parola Compound, Tondo, Manila claim firemen "just watched the fire."
Parola residents claim firemen 'just watched' inferno; lack of water also assailed
Residents of Parola compound in Tondo, Manila are claiming some firemen failed to do their duty following a six-hour fire that killed five, including four minors, last Saturday (February 20).
A few residents complained that the firemen just took videos of the fire before responding to it.
“Hinintay pa nila lumaki ‘yong apoy bago sila naglabas ng tubig,” one resident told reporters.
Some residents also said the firefighters did not have enough water.
However, Fire Inspector Gaudencio Magallanes claimed that some residents impeded the firefighting efforts by grabbing the hoses.
“Unfortunately, mayroon talagang nanggugulo, nanakot. Mayroon pang balita na may nasaksak pero ‘di pa natin na-confirm ang nangyari kung talagang nasaksak,” Gaudencio said.
Five people, mostly minors, died in the fire which started at around 11:53 p.m. on Saturday.
Fire at Parola Compound from abs-cbn news
Around 600 families were displaced and about 300 structures were destroyed in the blaze, while damage to property was estimated at around P3 million. (JV)