Manila: A major fire broke out at a historic post office building in the Philippine capital Manila last night, gutting the 100-year-old post office and leaving one person with minor burns. Police and postal officials gave this information on Monday. Fire officials said the blaze broke out in the ground floor of the five-storey building just before midnight and was brought under control on Monday morning after seven hours of strenuous efforts.
Officials said that at present the cause of the fire and the damage caused in the incident are being ascertained. This central post office in Manila was one of the busiest office buildings in the capital. It has been closed after the fire. Postal service in the Philippines dates back to the Spanish colonial period when mounted postmen delivered mail. The post office which was destroyed in the fire was built in 1926. This traditional ancient style building with tall pillars was badly damaged during the Second World War and was reconstructed in 1946.
