12 dead, thousands displaced in Philippines fire

MANILA: A huge fire in Manila's Navotas city on Saturday destroyed more than 100 houses, killing 12 people and displacing nearly 2,000 others, GMA News reported.

Seven children were among those killed when the fire broke out around 11 p.m local time in San Roque village in Navotas as many residents were celebrating on the eve of an annual religious fiesta. The fire was declared "out" at 4:45 a.m. on Sunday, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's twitter account.

The 1,800 residents displaced by the fire are being given meals and shelter at a nearby school, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

(BNO NEWS )