A Jealous Man Started the Massive Intramuros Fire That Destroyed 300 Homes and Displaced 600 Families, Officials Say
The massive four-alarm fire that ripped through Cabildo Street in Intramuros on Wednesday, destroying around 300 houses and displacing roughly 600 families, was allegedly started by a jealous man — according to the barangay chairman whose community was devastated.
Barangay 655 Chairman Johnny Yacub told reporters that the suspect, driven by jealousy, deliberately set fire to a residence in the densely packed residential area. The blaze erupted around 5 p.m. and wasn't fully extinguished until 11:33 p.m. — more than six hours of firefighting in one of Manila's most historic districts.
The fire reached the fourth alarm, meaning dozens of fire trucks and hundreds of firefighters were deployed. The narrow streets and tightly packed wooden structures of the Intramuros residential area — which sits just behind the famous Spanish-era walls — made containment extremely difficult.
Photos from The Manila Times showed fire victims picking through the charred ruins of their homes on Thursday morning, searching for anything salvageable. An estimated 600 families — potentially thousands of individuals — lost everything they had. A senior citizen was also reported killed in the blaze.
The revelation that jealousy was the motive adds a tragic human dimension to what was already one of Manila's worst residential fires this year. If confirmed, the suspect could face arson charges with homicide — a non-bailable offense. Intramuros, known worldwide as Manila's historic walled city, now has a new scar that no restoration can erase.
Source: The Manila Times
