Fire hits houses, shopping mall in Manila

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December 27, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Five houses and a portion of a shopping mall caught fire in separate incidents in Manila a day after Christmas Day.

The blaze hit one of five houses at the corner of Batanes Street and Mindanao Avenue in Barangay 582 Zone 57, Sampaloc district past 3 a.m. yesterday, according to a report from the Manila Police District Station 4.

The Manila Fire District (MFD) raised the first alarm at 3:11 a.m. Firefighters on 20 fire trucks responded and the fire was controlled by 3:53 a.m.

Firefighters struggled to put out the fire because the house made of concrete contained combustible materials such as wood, and the alley leading to the area could fit only one person, said MFD Station 5 commander Inspector Cesar Babante.

Initial investigation revealed one of the tenants in the affected house had lighted an incense stick before the fire broke out and consumed the five houses, he said.

They tried to put out the fire using fire extinguishers and pails of water.

An estimated 10 families were displaced by the fire, according to television reports.

Meanwhile, another fire hit a portion of the 999 Mall Building 2 in Binondo at past 11 a.m., according to fire alerts posted on Facebook.

Based on photos posted by netizens, smoke from the blaze engulfed stalls of clothes and gadgets reportedly located on the second floor.

It was quickly put out, but the fire caused panic and prompted evacuation among shoppers.

The MFD has yet to provide information about the fire that hit the Binondo mall.