MANILA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Three people died and three others were injured after a fire swept through a residential area in Navotas City in the Philippine capital before dawn on Thursday, local authorities and media reports said.
The victims were a pregnant woman and two girls, according to the initial investigation by fire protection authorities. The fire started before 4 a.m. and was declared out before 7:00 a.m.
Authorities said the fire spread rapidly because the area was densely populated and many of the houses were built of light, highly combustible materials. Firefighters faced difficulties reaching the burning houses because of narrow pathways within the community, limiting access for fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.
An investigation to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of damage is underway.
Based on accounts from several residents, the blaze started from electrical wires, which may have suffered an overload caused by alleged illegal electrical jumpers.
