(CLO) A massive fire ripped through a coastal slum in the Philippine capital Manila on Sunday, leaving at least 2,000 families homeless as the blaze raged for nearly eight hours.
Drone footage from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office shows fierce orange flames burning down stilt houses in Isla Puting Bato, a shantytown in Tondo, Manila.
X [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVlK9dE8r04[/embed]
Video of the fire (source: YouTube/ABC News)
The Manila Fire Department said about 1,000 homes were destroyed and about 8,000 people were displaced in the fire that broke out at 8 a.m. Sunday and lasted until 4 p.m.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire disaster, but fires in Manila's slums are often caused by faulty electrical wiring or gas cylinders.
A Philippine Air Force helicopter drops water on burning slums in Tondo, Manila on Sunday. Photo: AFP
Isla Puting Bato, located in the Tondo district, is Manila's largest slum, home to an estimated 654,220 people. Many live in squalid shacks on crowded streets near a bustling commercial port.
Photos show people escaping the fire on makeshift rafts into the sea while others tried to salvage their belongings.
Residents and firefighters extinguish the fire. Photo: Getty
Elvira Valdemoro, 58, a Manila resident and shop owner, was devastated by the loss.
“I feel bad because we have no livelihood and no home. Everything is gone. We don’t know how we will eat. We are in a very bad situation, and Christmas is coming soon,” she told Reuters.
People watch as houses burn in Tondo, Manila. Photo: AFP
Manila Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan visited Isla Puting Bato on Monday and spoke with survivors who had to spend the night in makeshift tents.
“Please be patient. We will continue to come to assist. No one wants this to happen,” Lacuna-Pangan told residents. She urged residents to register and voluntarily evacuate to temporary shelters, where they will be provided with food and supplies.
People carry their belongings on makeshift rafts during the fire. Photo: AFP
A firefighter carries a dog that was rescued from a fire in a slum in Manila. Photo: Reuters
Huy Hoang (according to ABC, CNN, Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/video-va-hinh-anh-hoa-hoan-kinh-hoang-o-khu-o-chuot-lon-nhat-philippines-post322872.html
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