Fire hits village in Zamboanga City

MANILA, Philippines—Fire broke out in a village in Zamboanga City on Thursday afternoon amid a standoff between government troops and Muslim rebels there.

Authorities cannot put off fire in Sta. Catalina as the area is critical, the Zamboanga City government posted on its Twitter account.

“Area is critical due to presence of MNLF, some with snipers and high-powered rifles. We cannot just risk lives of firefighters,” the @zambocitygovt posted in a reply to one of Twitter users.

The fire started in a house adjacent to Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, it said.