2 Manila fire officials relieved from posts after deadly Binondo fire

Two fire officials in Manila were temporarily relieved from their posts amid the investigation into the fire incident in Binondo which resulted in the deaths of 11 people, the Bureau of Fire Protection - National Capital Region (NCR) said.

Manila District Fire marshal Senior Superintendent Aristotle Bañaga and Manila Fire Safety Enforcement Branch chief Fire Chief Inspector Dominic Salvacion were removed from their positions to give way for an impartial probe.

The BFP-NCR said the fire at 647 Carvajal Street in Binondo reached the first alarm at 7:28 a.m. and the second alarm at 8:14 a.m. on Friday.

Firefighters were able to contain the blaze at 9:31 a.m. It was declared out at 10:03 a.m.

Around P100,000 worth of properties were damaged due to the fire, according to the BFP-NCR.

All of the 11 cadavers of the victims have been identified.

Families of the victims received food packs, financial aid, transportation assistance from Manila’s Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Based on the investigation, a leak from a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank caused the fire. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News