Fire guts a row of shops in Manila

MANILA, Philippines—Over a million peso worth of property went up in smoke when a fire gutted several commercial establishments in Manila early Thursday, a city fire investigator said.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Emmanuel Gaspar of the arson division of the Manila Fire Department said the blaze hit 15 shops at the corner of San Marcelino Street and Ayala Boulevard at 5:33 a.m.

While the cause of the fire has yet to be established, Gaspar said investigators were checking reports that the fire started at a computer shop and a beauty parlor.

The blaze reached fifth alarm before it was put out at 6:30 a.m. No one was reported hurt.