Metro Manila, Philippines – About 1,000 houses were destroyed after a massive fire tore through Barangay Lamion, Bongao town in Tawi-Tawi province on Tuesday night, Feb. 3.
Fire Inspector Wagner A. Kamlian, the acting Municipal Fire Marshall of BFP Bongao Central Fire Station, said in an interview that the fire was put out at around 3 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2026.
Total damages recorded were pegged at P17.5M, with 700 families affected.
According to Kamlian, the fire spread rapidly because most of the houses were made of light combustible materials coupled with strong winds.
“The fire investigation is still ongoing so that we can have accurate data on the total damages and the actual cause of fire,” he said.
Bongao MDRRMO reports no casualty.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard said that the affected families were brought to the Coast Guard Station in Central Tawi-Tawi for temporary shelter and assistance.
