A huge fire which occured on 14 September has displaced at least 1,000 families living in sub-divided flats in 9 tenement blocks at the slum area in Tondo, Metro Manila, some of which have been collapsed in the incident. Dozens of fire engines, rescuers and two Air Force helicopters were deployed to the scene to put out the fire. Poorly built houses and a lack of government assistance and oversight have been the major cause of tremendous fires that destructed homes of the poor across the country in recent years.
