2 dead in Mandaluyong fire

Two people are confirmed dead in a fire that razed nearly 50 homes in Barangay Poblacion, Mandaluyong, according to Bam Alegre's report in Unang Balita on Thursday.

"Ngayon po, na-confirm ng aming team na may isang babae at may isa pa pong unidentified (na namatay) kasi nakataob siya. Hindi pa po masasabi dahil hihintayin pa yung SOCO (scene of the crime operatives) dahil sunog na sunog daw po yung isang nakita," said Jess Lawrence Acoba ng Bureau of Fire Protecion (BFP) Mandaluyong.

(Our team confirmed that once is a woman while the other has yet to be identified. We have to wait for SOCO because the body was badly burned.)

Two minors were initially reported missing after the fire. 

According to the BFP 50 homes were affected by the fire. The fire reached a second alarm after firefighters had a hard time reaching the affected areas. 

"Aalis sana kami 'nun, tapos naamoy ko na lang na amoy nasusunog na gamit... Tapos nung nakita ko bigla na lang lumiyab yung apoy," said one of the fire victims, Shiela Barba.

(We were about to go out when I smelled something burning. That's when I saw the fire.)

The fire was declared under control at around 1 a.m. and eventually "fire out" at 2 a.m. —VAL, GMA Integrated News