Thousands homeless after Manila fire

It’s estimated that more than 20,000 people have been left homeless after a fire broke out in a slum near the Filipino capital, Manila.

No casualties or serious injuries have been reported but around 4,000 families have seen their homes reduced to cinders.

According to the mayor of Muntinlupa City, the blaze started at just after 04:00 local time in a shop selling gas canisters.

The narrow streets of the shanty town meant fire engines found it difficult to reach the flames and the fire lasted around four hours. Many of the houses in the slum are made of light material, allowing the fire to spread quickly.

Authorities are trying to put up those made homeless in temporary housing.

Up to a third of Manila’s 12 million population are said to live in slums, where they are vulnerable to disease and fires.

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