No injuries in Russian Embassy fire; damage stands at P100 million

MANILA, Philippines — There were no injuries due in the fire that struck the Russian Embassy in Makati on Friday night, the embassy confirmed on Saturday.

Russian Ambassador Marat Pavlov and all employees were safe after the incident, according to the embassy.

“There are no victims or injured,” the embassy said in a statement on Saturday. “Employees and members of their families were evacuated.”

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) also reported that the damage caused by the blaze — which occurred at Acacia Street Cor. Mahogany in Dasmariñas Village — now stands at P101,109,576.

The fire reached the second alarm and was only extinguished at 2:10 a.m. on Saturday, BFP added.

The BFP said the fire started at the second floor of the embassy, but the cause is still under investigation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) meanwhile said the embassy is secured following the fire as it assured that the mission’s premises will be protected from intrusion under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

“The Russian Embassy is taking measures to ensure the integrity and security of the chancery premises and the properties inside, as it should, taking special care that diplomatic correspondence is protected.  It is the same with the embassies of all other countries without a single exception,” the DFA said in a statement on Saturday.

“The Department assures the Russian Embassy that it upholds the inviolability of the mission’s premises and its right to protection from intrusion or disturbance as provided under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” the DFA added.

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