A girl is seen inside a charred house after a fire at a slum area in Manila, the Philippines on May 20, 2022. A fire raced through a slum near the main port in the Philippine capital on Thursday night, threatening many vessels docked in the area, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
MANILA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A fire raced through a slum near the main port in the Philippine capital on Thursday night, threatening many vessels docked in the area, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.
PCG spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo said the fire broke out before 8 p.m. local time in the crowded Baseco slum along the rim of Manila Bay and continued to rage for nearly two hours.
"Many boats could not leave the area due to low tide," Balilo told reporters. He posted videos and pictures of the fire engulfing dozens of shanties along the river on social media.
Balilo said the PCG declared a "no sail zone" near the area.
Firefighters from different areas in the capital scrambled to put out the fire. There were no reported casualties yet. ■
Residents search for their belongings from charred houses after a fire at a slum area in Manila, the Philippines on May 20, 2022. A fire raced through a slum near the main port in the Philippine capital on Thursday night, threatening many vessels docked in the area, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
Residents search for their belongings from charred houses after a fire at a slum area in Manila, the Philippines on May 20, 2022. A fire raced through a slum near the main port in the Philippine capital on Thursday night, threatening many vessels docked in the area, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
Residents are seen in the water of Manila Bay as they search for their belongings after a fire at a slum area in Manila, the Philippines on May 20, 2022. A fire raced through a slum near the main port in the Philippine capital on Thursday night, threatening many vessels docked in the area, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
