Massive fire spreads through residential area in Manila

A massive fire broke out in a residential area in the Tondo of Manila, capital of Philippines, leaving thousands of houses engulfed in flames and more than 2,000 families homeless.

A massive fire broke out in a residential area in the Tondo of Manila, capital of Philippines, on Sunday, leaving thousands of houses engulfed in flames and more than 2,000 families homeless.

The fire-affected area is located in Isla Puting Bato, Tondo, near the Manila North Harbour Port. The residential houses in Isla Puting Bato are mostly made of light materials and built closely. The fire destroyed thousands of houses and forced the emergency evacuation of a huge number of residents.

The fire started around 8 a.m. (0000 GMT) along a shanty community in Manila’s port area and was put out eight hours later. Firefighters have yet to discover the cause of the fire, which is usually caused by faulty electrical wiring.

Elvira Valdemoro, 58, rushed to evacuate her five children and 18 dogs when the fire broke out, but was worried about the long-term impact of the blaze. "Everything is gone. We don't know how we can eat. We are in a very bad situation, and it's almost Christmas."

The Philippines has a patchy record in enforcing fire safety in buildings, homes and offices. In August, 11 people died after a five-storey apartment burned down in Manila’s Chinatown.

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