MANILA STANDARD TODAY (Philippines), THE INDEPENDENT (UK), AP
MANILA – Angry residents beat a man to death and threw rocks at firefighters after a shantytown fire killed seven people on Christmas day, reports the Associated Press.
The man was reportedly beaten to death by his neighbors after shouting that he started Tuesday’s fire in suburban San Juan city, Senior Fire Officer Domingo Cabog said.
The man was reportedly drunk and was not responsible for the fire. According to the official, the fire started in a house where children were playing with lighted candles.
Seven people were killed, 13 others were injured, and at least 2,000 families were left homeless on Christmas Day after two separate fires hit shantytowns in San Juan, east of Manila and two apartments in Quezon City on Christmas Day, reports the Manila Standard Today.
Map of Manila’s Metropolitan Area – Source: Googlemaps
Around 1,500 homes in San Juan city were destroyed by the fire, which residents attempted to put out using hoses and buckets of water, reports the Independent.
Millions of Filipinos live in shantytowns around the capital city on Luzon Island.
Cramped conditions and poor construction leave the areas exposed to fires and natural disasters.
