Fire ravages historic post office building in Philippines
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Officials say the flames have torn through the building burning down all letters and parcels as firefighters from all across Manila fought to put out the fire.
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Firefighters work on putting out the flames that scorched through the Manila Post Central Office, Manila, Philippines, May 22, 2022. (AFP via STR)
A massive fire broke out in the Manila Central Post Office in the Philippines, ravaging the historic neo-classical building, officials said on Monday.
Upwards of 80 fire trucks rushed to the scene to put out the flames which erupted on Sunday night, the Bureau of Fire Protection said.
Plumes of black smoke were seen rising through the structure's columns as red-hot flames intensified inside the building, which houses the Philippine Postal Corporation.
After battling the flames for more than 7 hours, firefighters were able to set out the blaze that left black markings across the front of the building,
"The whole building has burned down from the basement all the way to the fifth floor," Luis Carlos, a Postmaster General, revealed to DZBB radio
Carlos said the cause of the fire that destroyed the entirety of the building is still being investigated.
The event has also put ablaze all letters, parcels, and the postal agency's stamp collection, according to the official.
One volunteer firefighter was injured as emergency workers were deployed from all across Manila to put the fire under control.
The Manila Central Post Office was established in 1926 and was thought of as the "grandest building" in the Philippines' capital city. In World War II, the US army destroyed the building in its fight with Japanese forces while the structure was rebuilt in 1946. The structure was declared an "important cultural property" in 2018 by the Philippine National Museum.
