Officials announced on Tuesday morning that the fire at the Manila Central Post Office has been put out, bringing an end to the blaze that lasted for almost 31 hours. The fire started in the basement of the well-known building on Liwasang Bonifacio.
According to the state-run PTV4, the Bureau of Fire Protection declared the fire completely extinguished at 6:33am.
A total of 18 people were injured in the incident, including one civilian, one volunteer firefighter, and 16 firefighters from the Bureau of Fire Protection.
The fire, which caused extensive damage to the Manila Central Post Office, began at 11:41pm on Sunday. An employee who stayed overnight reported seeing thick smoke coming from the basement.
By 7:22am on Monday, the Bureau of Fire Protection had managed to bring the fire under control.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the fire resulted in damages worth around P300 million (US$5.39 million). However, the assessment is still ongoing, and the final figure may increase.
The Manila Central Post Office is home to the Philippine Postal Corporation and serves as the main hub for sorting and distributing mail across the country.
The fire affected various items, including Philippine identification cards. However, authorities have clarified that only IDs destined for Manila were impacted.
A total of 82 fire trucks, including 42 from the Bureau of Fire Protection and 40 from volunteer firefighting groups in Metro Manila and nearby areas, responded to the emergency.
Considered an architectural treasure, the Manila Central Post Office is a neoclassical structure designed by iconic Filipino architects Juan Arellano and Tomás Mapúa in 1926.
The building endured severe damage during the Battle of Manila in World War II, but was rebuilt in 1946.
