Tutuban fire ceased after 2 days

By Mikaela Joyce Sarthou

The fire that devoured Tutuban Mall Cluster I building in Divisoria, Manila finally ceased after two days, a firefighter who asked not to be named confirmed Saturday.

He added that their team still needs to overhaul the area for several days to avoid re-ignition.

“Gaya ng nakikita niyo, ‘yung building umuusok pa, [kapag hindi na-monitor] mag-iignite ulit ‘yun at mag-aapoy ulit,” the firefighter said.

The fire started at around 12:30 A.M. of September 5 after the ‘Night Market’ packed out their stalls.

The firefighter also said that the cause of the fire is still to be determined, as the investigators still cannot enter the building as of date posted. The estimated cost of damage is also yet to be assessed.

The firefighter reported that, according to their source, the fire started on the ground floor of the building. Stalls in Cluster I mainly sold textiles, gowns and clothes.

“’Yung mga ganyang establishment kasi, kulob ‘yan eh, so di nakakalabas ang usok [at] init. So mahirap mag-penitrate at kailangan ng breathing apparatus para makapasok,” said the Tutuban Fire Brigade firefighter.

Several injuries were reported, all of which are volunteer firefighters who incurred head and hand injuries.

Possibilities of arson?

Hearsays are spreading among stall owners and employees that the fire was intentional.

Albert dela Cruz, a stall owner in Tayuman Cluster II, said he has an assumption that the fire was planned, as the vendors refused to renew their contracts due to high cost. The contracts will be terminated on October 2013.

A vendor, who also asked not to be named, outside the Tutuban Cluster I building said that they were prohibited to stay there for three days.

A group of salesladies waiting outside the building for further announcements from the Tutuban administration on Saturday also echoed the rumour.

They, too, believed that the rumour regarding the intentional arson is true.

One of the salesladies added that every stall has a metal roll-down shutter so it is impossible for the fire spread widely. Furthermore, she explained that they close it every time they are done for the day so there is no way that the fire could have started in the area.

The salesladies also said they are about to transfer from Tutuban to 999 Mall because of expensive rent. The fire’s time of occurrence, which was midnight, also prevented them from saving any of their merchandise. 

They added that they want to go inside the building to search for products that are still saleable.

The Tutuban administration refused to comment on the issue.

Tutuball mall is in the Divisoria district. This year, the administration announced an expansion of the mall that will include a mini zoo, terminals and other developments.