Two Killed, 800 Homes Burnt In Fire In The Philippines

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- A fire killed two people and razed nearly 800 houses in two seaside communities on a former U.S. seaplane base southwest of Manila on Thursday, officials said.

``Most of the people lost everything, all their clothes and the things in their houses,'' Mayor Edward Hagedorn of Puerto Princesa city in Palawan province said in an interview with GMA television.

He said the homeless would be temporarily housed at the city's gymnasium.

Local officials in Puerto Princesa said residents heard an explosion before seeing flames in one of the houses. The blaze, fanned by strong winds, spread rapidly because most of the houses were built of light material.

Puerto Princesa, about 580 kilometers (363 miles) southwest of Manila, is known for its beaches and as the gateway to eco-tourism spots in Palawan.