Fire destroys the oldest post office in the Philippines

A massive fire gutted the Manila Central Post Office overnight on May 21, slightly injuring one person and leveling the nearly 100-year-old landmark in the Philippine capital, police and officials said on May 22.

The fire started at around 11:41 p.m. local time on May 21 in the basement of the five-story building and was brought under control about eight hours later, according to the Philippine Fire and Rescue Agency. The post office was closed at the time of the fire.

Numerous images and videos showed flames and thick smoke billowing from the windows of the neoclassical building, known for its grand entrance and ornate colonnade.

More than 80 fire engines were dispatched to the scene, and one firefighter suffered minor injuries. The cause and extent of the damage are still under investigation.

The agency's director said light materials inside the building, such as mail and parcels, contributed to the fire's ferocity.

The nearly 100-year-old Manila Central Post Office has been recognized as an important cultural property of the Philippines. Photo: freemalysiatoday.com

“The entire building was burned from the basement to the fifth floor,” said Luis Carlos, general manager of the Philippine Postal Corporation. Mail, parcels and the entire post office’s stamp collection were inside the building and were likely to be destroyed, Carlos said.

80 fire trucks in Manila were dispatched to the scene of the fire. Photo: The National

Firefighters quickly arrived at the scene, but it took nearly eight hours to bring the fire under control. Photo: CNN

Built in 1926, the Manila Central Post Office is now the headquarters of the Philippine Postal Corporation.

It was declared an “important cultural property” in 2018. It is the oldest post office and “has special cultural, artistic and historical significance to the Philippines,” according to CNN Philippines.

The building was severely damaged during World War II and was rebuilt in 1946 .

Nguyen Tuyet (According to CNN, Rappler, The National)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/ba-hoa-thieu-rui-toa-buu-dien-lau-doi-nhat-philippines-a608944.html