Residents panicked as a fire ripped through hundreds of homes in the Philippines.

Footage shows worried locals watching from afar as a black smoke plume rose from Barangay 21-C in Davao city, Davao del Sur province on February 25 afternoon.

The fire was extinguished after four hours, with no injuries or deaths reported.

Authorities estimated around 1,200 houses and nine million PHP (163,000 USD) of property were destroyed by the blaze that hit the coastal area. Firefighters said the flames spread rapidly since the homes were built with flammable materials.

The local government has been handing out aid to the affected families, who were evacuated to a covered court in the neighbouring barangay.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.