MANILA, Philippines – More than 4,000 people were left homeless after a fire engulfed a residential area in the Philippine capital on Wednesday, a district fire marshal said Thursday.
At least eight people were injured in the fire that leveled hundreds of houses in the city of Mandaluyong, one of several cities that are part of the national capital, said Samuel Tadeo, the fire marshal.
Tadeo said the fire had spread quickly in the neighborhood partly because of a strong breeze. The cause of the fire was unknown.
"Narrow streets and lack of fire hydrants in the area have hampered our firefighting operations," he said.
An air force helicopter was used to help put out the blaze, Tadeo said.
Many residents returned to the community Thursday to try to salvage what remained of their belongings. The people displaced by the fire were being housed in five nearby evacuation centers, including at a city gymnasium.
News services
