A fire broke out at the third floor of a commercial building along Avenida Raon corner Trinidad Street in Santa Cruz, Manila, with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) continuing its efforts to contain the blaze as of 1:45 p.m.

The BFP has kept the fire at Second Alarm as firefighters and fire volunteers struggle to put out the flames due to the building’s narrow structure and the presence of stored materials inside the establishment.

Thick smoke was seen surrounding the Avenida-Raon area as responders worked to control the fire, while residents and bystanders gathered nearby to witness the ongoing firefighting operations.

A resident said the fire caused panic among people in the area after they noticed smoke and flames coming from the commercial building.

“Kanina nag-panic ang mga tao dahil sabi, sunog, sunog, kaya kami tumakbo at tumawag kami ng bumbero. Hindi namin akalain na ganyan na pala, talagang sobra na yung sunog. Pati sa kabila, meron din dun kasama na po. Mga itong building na ito, makipot po yan, makipot,” the resident said.

The resident added that the building houses warehouses and stores, expressing concern for business owners who may be affected by the incident.

“Sana maagapan na kasi yan, mga laman yan, puro mga staff. Mga bodega, yung baba, tindahan. Sana maayos na po yan kasi kawawa yung mga may bodega,” the resident added.

Authorities have yet to release details on the cause of the fire and any reported injuries or damages as firefighting operations continue.