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The terrifying fire burnt down more than 1,000 houses and displaced thousands of residents.
10:36, Wed, Feb 4, 2026 Updated: 11:15, Wed, Feb 4, 2026
Thousands of homes were engulfed in flames after a massive fire broke out (Image: Getty)
This is the horrifying moment a massive fire ripped through a town, forcing thousands of residents to flee as their homes were reduced to rubble. Flames erupted yesterday in Barangay Lamion, Bongao, and rapidly swept through the coastal community, engulfing the area with alarming speed.
Roughly 5,000 residents live in the area that was impacted. Strong winds and the combustible materials used in many of the stilt homes allowed the flames to race rapidly from building to building. Aerial videos shared online reveal the extent of the devastation, with roofs engulfed in flames and structures crumbling into the blaze below.
he horror blaze has left a large number of residents displaced (Image: Getty)
Crews eventually contained the fire at around 2am on Wednesday, but only after large parts of the neighbourhood had been destroyed.
Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua has directed that relief supplies — such as food, drinking water, tents, medical provisions and security assistance — be sent to the area without delay.
The Bangsamoro READi team and the Ministry of Social Services and Development are working alongside local officials and Tawi‑Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali to organise and deliver support.
The affected area is home to an estimated 5,000 people. (Image: Getty)
Early reports indicate that, despite the scale of the disaster, there have been no confirmed deaths. Hundreds of families have been moved to temporary shelters while emergency teams launch rescue and relief efforts.
Drone footage reveals blackened stilts lining the coast, wreckage scattered throughout the site and a formerly vibrant neighbourhood reduced to devastation.
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Officials put the losses at over ₱17.5 million (roughly £210,000 to £217,000), while local leaders call for donations and sustained assistance to help the remote island community recover and rebuild.
The exact trigger of the blaze has not yet been determined, though initial findings suggest it may have originated in a home.
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