Eight people have been confirmed dead, including six children, after a fire tore through scores of homes near the Philippines capital, Manila, local officials have said.
The blaze, which started around 05:00 local time on Monday, May 2, 2022, also destroyed 80 homes.
It started on the second floor of a house in a crowded settlement inside the sprawling campus of the University of the Philippines, in Quezon City. But as it stands, officials are yet to know the cause of the blaze.
Senior Fire Officer, Greg Bichayda, disclosed to the media that it took nearly two hours to extinguish the fire. “The fire spread quickly,” Mr. Bichayda said, adding that victims were unable to escape their homes. He also confirmed that six of those who died were children, but no further details of their ages were released.
Mr. Bichayda said “The houses consist of light materials. When the fire broke out, people were shocked. Our station was just nearby but they weren’t able to call us immediately”.
The Philippines is one of the most densely-populated countries in the world, and its capital, Manila, has a large number of residents per square kilometre. Metro Manila, the region which comprises the capital and other cities including Quezon, has a population of about 13 million. Thousands of people live in overcrowded communities where fires are common.
More updates on this story coming…
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