Fire destroys main post office in Philippine capital

According to ABC News, the fire started before midnight in the basement of the neoclassical, five-story building and was brought under control Monday morning more than seven hours after it began.

An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the fire and what was damaged, officials said.

The Manila Central Post Office was one of the capital’s busiest office buildings but was closed when the fire started. The building was the country’s main mail-sorting and distribution hub and was the central office of the Philippine Postal Corporation.