MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has confirmed that a devastating fire engulfed the historic Manila Central Post Office, causing extensive damage to the building.
The blaze, which started on May 21, Sunday, was finally declared under control at 7:22 am on Monday, May 22, nearly eight hours after it began.
According to the BFP-National Capital Region, the fire broke out at 11:41 pm and quickly escalated, reaching the highest fire alarm level, known as the General Alarm, at 5:54 am. This alarm signifies that major parts of the area were affected.
Earlier, at 1:09 am, the Manila Public Information Office announced that a Second Alarm had been raised. The Manila Central Post Office serves as the headquarters for the Philippine Postal Corporation and houses the country’s main mail sorting and distribution operations.
Subsequently, the third, fourth, and fifth alarms were raised at 02:17 am, 4:28 am, and 4:32 am, respectively.
The fire continued to intensify, leading to the declaration of Task Force Alpha status at 4:36 am, Task Force Bravo at 4:45 am, Task Force Charlie at 5:02 am, and Task Force Delta at 5:25 am.
Eighty fire trucks from various parts of Metro Manila were deployed to contain the blaze, as firefighters fought tirelessly to bring the fire under control. The Bureau of Fire Protection, together with other authorities, is now conducting investigations to determine the cause of the fire.
The neoclassical building, designed by esteemed Filipino architects Juan Arellano and Tomás Mapúa, commenced construction in 1926. Despite sustaining severe damage during the Battle of Manila in World War II, the post office was rebuilt in 1946 as a testament to its historical significance. – WhatALife!/Jayve
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