CAVITE CITY – A fire swept through two barangays in Cavite City on Sunday afternoon, destroying an estimated 600 homes and displacing thousands of residents, local officials said.

The blaze, which reached a third alarm, started in a house in Barangay 7 around 3 p.m. local time and quickly spread to neighboring Barangay 5, fanned by strong winds from the sea.

“We had to jump into the water when we saw how fast the fire was spreading,” Arnell Paghunasan, 25, told local media. Many residents were unable to salvify their belongings as the fire consumed structures made of light materials.

Approximately 100 fire trucks from surrounding areas responded to the scene, assisted by fire volunteers and a helicopter that scooped water from the sea to douse the flames.

The Bureau of Fire Protection declared the fire under control at 4:58 p.m. and fully extinguished by 5:54 p.m.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire and assessing the total damage. No casualties have been reported so far.

The local government is coordinating relief efforts for the affected residents, many of whom have lost their homes and possessions.