February 5, 2026 | 10:46 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thousands were displaced after a massive fire swept through an islet in the southern Philippines.
The fire broke out around 9:30 p.m. on late Tuesday, February 3, 2026, a resident of Lamion, Bongao in Tawi-Tawi province, Bangsamoro region, told Anadolu.
Local authorities estimate that more than 1,000 small houses were burned down while around 5,000 people were forced to evacuate to other places.
A video shared on the Facebook page of S/B F&M SeaJet showed massive flames engulfing the area, which has floating houses.
Firefighters declared the fire under control at around 2 a.m., more than four hours after the fire began, according to TRT World.
On Wednesday, local government worked with the Bangsamoro Ministry of Social Services and Development to run primary relief operations, while healthcare personnel were deployed to assist displaced residents.
“The authorities are still investigating cause of the fire,” said the resident, who wished to remain anonymous.
He said people on the island stored gasoline and other fuel items imported from Malaysia.
“It is common here as it is their livelihood. It can also be a reason for the massive fire which engulfed the region but the cause of the fire is yet to be established,” the resident said.
No fatalities were recorded in the fire, said the Bongao Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO). But several footbridges were damaged by fire, hampering rescue and firefighting efforts during the blaze.
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