At least eight people were reported killed in a fire at Village A, Barangay UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City, on Monday morning.
CNN Philippines, quoting the Bureau of Fire Protection, said the blaze also injured three people and razed over 80 houses.
The fire that hit the residential community was first reported at 5:20 a.m. and had spread among houses made of light materials. The fire was placed under control nearly an hour later.
The report said authorities are still investigating what caused the fire.
The victims were trapped inside their homes as “the fire spread quickly,” said Senior Fire Officer Greg Bichayda.
Their ages are not yet known, but he said six were minors.
“The houses consist of light materials. When the fire broke out, people were shocked,” Bichayda said.
“Our station was just nearby but they weren’t able to call us immediately.”
More than 13 million people live in the densely populated capital, with tens of thousands in overcrowded slums where fires are common.
Many of the residents have fled rural poverty to live in Manila where there are more jobs. – with a report from AFP
