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Manila: A pre-dawn fire that started in a commercial building in Manila's suburban Pasay City left thousands of commuters stranded after it disrupted two major elevated train systems, radio and television reports said.
The blaze erupted inside the Pure Gold Supermarket at about 2 am local time before spreading to several neighbouring buildings. The shopping arcade in Libertad Street is linked to a train station where elevated train systems connecting suburban Quezon City and Manila converge at Manila's Taft Avenue. Several fire-fighters were injured or asphyxiated battling the blaze, the reports said, adding that only fire-fighters and volunteers with special breathing apparatuses were being allowed to enter the fire zone.
At least one volunteer was reported to have lost consciousness but was declared to be in stable condition after being rushed to hospital.
Policemen were deployed to prevent looting in the affected buildings, the reports said.
Authorities cordoned off the Libertad train station and vehicular traffic along Taft Avenue was diverted to other routes.
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