ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine Navy rescued dozens of families from a huge fire that broke out Sunday at the port area in the capital town of Bongao in the southern province of Tawi-Tawi.

The fire, which began at 2.30 a.m., burned several buildings and houses near the pier where the patrol corvette BRP Miguel Malvar was moored at the time of the blaze, according to Rear Admiral Rene Medina, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao.