It took over six hours before the Bureau of Fire Protection could declare the fire that hit Katipunan institution Shoppersville Supermarket under control.
The fire started at around 3:40am, according to the BFP and it continued to intensify by 6am. A fifth alarm was raised just before 7am, reports Philippine Daily Inquirer.
It was declared under control at 9:51am. More than 20 firetrucks responded to the blaze, according to CNN Philippines.
A GMA News report said “the fire may have been caused by appliances left plugged in overnight, such as freezers that store food items.”
It added that the family that owns the supermarket has vowed to reopen eventually “given that many of their employees have been working for them for decades.”
Shoppersville opened in 1968.
