Fire guts 20 houses in Manila

The fire started at the ground floor of an apartment building made up of light materials at around 1 a.m. #Bacoodfire

The burning apartment building. (Raha VFD)

A sad Christmas greeted some Bacood, Manila residents after a fire gutted 20 houses while celebrating the traditional midnight snack (Noche Buena) at Sta. Mesa Manila Wednesday early dawn.

The fire started at the ground floor of an apartment building made up of light materials at around 1 a.m., according to FC Insp. Rae Sumedca of the Manila Fire Department.

The fire quickly spread as most of the adjoining houses were made of wood.

No casualty nor injury were reported after firefighters declared the fire extinguished at 2 a.m.

Investigators estimated the damages on property to about P400,000 as the gutted houses were built from light materials and are 50 to 60 years old.

Arson probers are still determining the cause of fire.