A massive fire swept through a residential community in Parola Compound, Binondo, Manila on Saturday afternoon, May 23, 2026, destroying homes and sending thick smoke over the coastal area.
Based on information from the Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department, the fire broke out at around 3 p.m. at Gate 46 in Barangay 275.
The Bureau of Fire Protection said the blaze spread rapidly because many houses in the area were made of light materials and were built close to one another.
By 5:20 p.m., the fire had escalated to Task Force Charlie, prompting a larger emergency response from firefighters and rescue teams.
Firefighters continued to struggle to contain the blaze as of this writing, with responders facing difficulty accessing parts of the community because of its location near the coast of Manila Bay.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire and the number of affected families. No casualties have been reported as of posting.