“Inferno”: Fire Consumes Hundreds of Homes in the Heart of Manila

A massive fire engulfed hundreds of homes in a slum area of the Philippine capital, sending towering flames and thick black smoke into the sky, according to Manila’s fire department on Sunday.

The capital’s fire and rescue service reported that around 1,000 homes were damaged in the blaze, which is believed to have started on the second floor of a house. No injuries were immediately reported.

Images captured by drones and shared online by the local disaster management authority showed houses completely destroyed by the fire, as reported by AFP.

Approximately 2,000 families live in the impoverished area of Isla Putting Bato, according to firefighters.

Leonie Abiertas, 65, lost almost all of her belongings but managed to save the urn containing her husband’s ashes.

In tears, she said: “I really don’t know how I will rebuild my life after this fire.”

Around 36 fire trucks and two helicopters were deployed to help extinguish the flames.