A catastrophic fire destroyed more than a 1000 homes in the coastal city of Bongao in southern Philippines. The fire, which started on Tuesday night, destroyed much of the residential area, leaving thousands homeless.
The blaze spread quickly, fuelled by strong winds and the highly flammable materials used in many houses, according to Ecuador Comunicacion. Around 5,000 residents live in the affected area. The Municipal Risk Management Office said the fire broke out at about 10 pm and was brought under control by 2 am on Wednesday.
Families fled in panic, evacuating by land and sea while trying to save whatever belongings they could. Visuals shared on social media showed the scale of the devastation, with collapsed roofs, charred walls and entire sections of the neighbourhood reduced to ashes.
Rescue teams shifted displaced residents to temporary shelters. Bangsamoro chief minister Abdulraof Macacua ordered the immediate dispatch of relief supplies, including food, drinking water, tents, medical equipment and security personnel.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, though initial reports suggest it may have started inside a house. Property damage is estimated at 17.5 million Philippine pesos.
The tragedy adds to a series of recent fires in the region, where unsafe construction practices and harsh weather conditions have made coastal communities particularly vulnerable. Officials say determining the cause of the blaze will be key to preventing similar disasters in the future.
