Manila: A massive blaze destroyed hundreds of shanty homes in Philippine's downtown Manila early morning yesterday leaving hundreds of residents without homes.
"The estimate of those affected from the Bureau of Fire Protection is around 500 homes were affected out of 1,500 families, estimated more or less, and it is possible the number may rise."
"Everything was burned, none of my things were spared. All I have left is this statue of Santo Nino, my television, everything else is gone and burned."
The fire started around 1:55 a.m. (1755 GMT Tuesday) along a shanty community in Manila’s port area and was put out nine hours later.
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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