The Manila Central Post Office caught fire in Lawton, Manila on Sunday evening, May 21.
Based on the initial report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started at 11:30 pm.
The BFP raised the fire to General Alarm, the highest alarm level, at 5:54 am on Monday, May 22.
After eight hours, the fire was declared under control at about 7:22 am.
Interviewed during DZRH Damdaming Bayan, BFP-National Captional Region (NCR) Chief Supt. Nahum Tarroza said the fire started in the basement of the post office but they are still verifying this.
Three individuals including a BFP volunteer were reportedly hurt.
#LiveSaDZRH: BFP NCR Chief Supt. Nahum Tarroza #DamdamingBayanhttps://t.co/T7Y2Fd5UUo pic.twitter.com/QesQSX3xXw
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Tarroza said firefighter personnel had encountered difficulty in entering the building premises.
"Kulob ito eh, kaya nahirapan kami makapasok kanina. Ang mga gamit sa loob ay puro kahoy at papel kaya madaling masunog. Fire under control pa ito kasi may mga baga pa. Baka mag-rekindle pa ito," he said.
Tarroza added that BFP personnel also had shortage in water supply, forcing them to get water from the Pasig river.
According to the BFP-NCR Chief, the estimated damage due to the fire cost around ₱300 to ₱500 million.
In an interview with reporters, Postmaster general Luis Carlos said all letters, parcels, and other documents inside the building were burned.
"I went inside with the BFP director and so far, talaga natupok siya," he said.
But Carlos assured the Manila Central Office has digital copies or backups of the burned documents.
Meanwhile, in advisory, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) suspended the work of its two licensing offices Manila South District Office and Manila South Licensing Section located at the PhilPost Compound Annex II Building, Intramuros, Manila due to the fire.
