Bongao fire displaces hundreds of families in Philippines

A ferocious blaze swept through Barangay Lamion in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, destroying an estimated 1,000 homes and displacing thousands of residents in the remote Philippine island province.

The fire broke out at approximately 10:09 p.m. on February 3, and spread rapidly through the coastal community, fueled by strong winds and the flammable materials used in many stilt houses, Gulf News reports.

Aerial footage circulating on X captured the harrowing scene, showing flames engulfing rows of rooftops, thick smoke billowing into the night sky, and structures collapsing in a sea of fire. The blaze tore through the densely packed village, with embers flying across the surrounding darkness. By around 2 a.m. on February 4, firefighters were able to declare the fire under control, but not before it had devastated a community home to roughly 5,000 people.

Philippines: Massive fire razed ~1,000 homes in Barangay Lamion, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi (Feb 3–4).

Fueled by winds, blaze was out by early morning. No deaths.

Hundreds evacuated. Relief: food, water, tents; medical & security aid ongoing pic.twitter.com/nRYT6mdbmb

— GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) February 4, 2026

Despite the scale of destruction, no fatalities have been reported in the initial assessments. Hundreds of families were evacuated to temporary shelters, where relief operations are underway.

Bangsamoro Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua expressed his deep sympathy for the affected residents and ordered immediate assistance, including food, water, tents, medical supplies, and security support. Agencies such as the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi) and the Ministry of Social Services and Development are coordinating with local officials, including Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali, to provide aid.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though initial reports suggest it may have originated in a residential structure. Residents recounted chaotic scenes as they fled with whatever belongings they could carry. "It's heartbreaking; everything we built is gone," one evacuee told local media.

By Vafa Guliyeva