MANILA – A devastating, 8-hour-long fire engulfed the historic Manila Central Post Office, with damages estimated to be about P300 million, officials said on Monday.
The 97-year-old building caught fire at 11:41 P.M. on Sunday, taking 80 firetrucks for over 8 hours to bring the situation under control at around 7 A.M. Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan confirmed this in a statement on Monday afternoon.
The Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) has stated that a section of the building's basement, which was serving as its Mega Manila area office and doubling as a storage facility for documents and unused equipment, was affected by the fire. Tragically, the fire engulfed the entire building, spreading from the basement to the fifth floor, as confirmed by Postmaster General Luis Carlos.
As per Chief Superintendent Nahum Tarroza from the Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire resulted in the significant or complete destruction of the Manila Central Post Office. Their preliminary assessment suggests that the estimated damage caused by the fire amounts to approximately P300 million.
The post office, initially constructed in 1926, held the reputation of being Manila's most magnificent building. Recognizing its historical significance, the Philippine National Museum designated the building as an "important cultural property" in 2018.
References: ABSCBN News, Philstar
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