A huge fire engulfed homes in a Manila slum on Monday, leaving thousands homeless.

The blaze started before dawn and raged for around seven hours, spreading quickly in the crowded neighborhood with houses made of light materials.

Thick black smoke billowed from the burning shanties, as firemen tried hosing flames that grew with strong winds. Fire trucks from all over Manila were called to help in the rescue efforts.             

No fatalities were reported, but many homes were reduced to ashes. Around 800 homes were destroyed in the Muntinlupa district and up to 20,000 individuals could be affected.

At least 4,000 families were evacuated. The victims were relocated to a basketball court and along a sidewalk on a busy avenue.

Many of them were unable to salvage their belongings.             

[Erlinda Doronila, Fire Victim]:     
"When we left our home, one of the rooms was already in flames. So we really needed to escape. All that I was able to salvage was our documents, the children's papers. If we didn't come down, my two children would have suffocated."

Mother of four, Aida Prayco, said they had no food or clothes, and had to sleep on cartons and leftover campaign posters.             

[Aida Prayco, Fire Victim]:
"I hope the president will help us, who suffered from the fire. That's all. We really have nothing left.”

Some residents claimed looters took their remaining belongings.                   

Fire investigators are still determining the cause of the blaze, but suspect it could have originated from a stove.             

Fires are common in the metropolis of 12 million, especially in shanty neighborhoods where houses are densely packed together.