Huge fire leaves 25,000 people homeless in Southern Philippines –

NAN

A fire has left no fewer than 25,000 people homeless in a town on a Southern Philippine island known as a stronghold of Islamic State-allied militants, officials said on Wednesday.

According to Mayor Kerkhar Tan, the huge blaze gutted no less than 3,500 houses in two seaside communities in Jolo town, 1,000 kilometres south of Manila.

“No casualties have so far been reported from the fire, which was the biggest in Jolo since 1974 when intense battles between government troops and Muslim separatist rebels left the town in ruins,’’ Tan said.

Initial investigation showed the fire began from a coffee shop and quickly spread to houses made of light materials in the village of Busbus and Walled City.

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Jolo Island is known as a…