Fire hits Congress building; employees evacuated

Photo of the South Wing Building of the House of Representatives. Photo by INQUIRER.net's Karen Boncocan

MANILA, Philippines — Work was disrupted at the House of Representatives Wednesday morning after fire broke out at the third floor of its South Wing Building, prompting security personnel to evacuate employees.

Bernadette dela Cuesta, executive director for the House Public Relations and Information Bureau (PRIB), relayed to reporters Legislative Security Bureau executive director Isabelito Flores’ statement that firefighters responded immediately after employees saw smoke billowing from an elevator at around 9 a.m.

She said that authorities were able to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading.

Dela Cuesta said that as per information from House secretary general Marilyn Barua-Yap “nagtrip ang electrical sa elevator sa 3rd floor South Building. All personnel are back to their work stations. Nobody was hurt.”