At least two persons were injured while hundreds of families were rendered homeless after a two-hour predawn fire destroyed some 100 shanties along Mercedes Avenue in Pasig City Thursday.

Radio dzBB reported Thursday morning that the shanties built of light materials were located at Daang Bangka in San Miguel village, near the boundary of Pasig City and Cainta, Rizal.

It said Arturo Rodriguez, a local village councilor, said "50 to 100" shanties were destroyed in the fire, and the families would be temporarily sheltered at the covered court and the local barangay hall.

Firefighters managed to put the fire under control at about 5:45 a.m., after the fire had reached the third alarm.

Radio dzRH cited initial reports from the Philippine National Red Cross identifying two of the injured as Pepito Galis, who sustained laceration in the hands; and John Anthony Sanchez, 18, who hurt his foot.

An elderly resident interviewed by the station said she heard neighbors talk about a grenade exploding on top of the roofs of one of the houses.

"Sabi may naghagis ng granada, hindi ko alam. Nakita namin lumalabas ang lakas ng apoy. Wala nang ilaw, madilim na, wala kaming nakuha (I heard them say someone lobbed a grenade, but I don't know. All I saw was the flames. There was no electricity, it was dark. We could not save any of our belongings)," she said.