Hundreds of houses were destroyed by a fire that broke out in a coastal community in the Philippines.

Resident Ariel Urdaneta filmed the huge cloud of black smoke billowing from Purok Saeg in South Cotabato province, the Philippines on November 3.

He said: ‘The fire spread so fast that many of my neighbors couldn’t save their belongings.’

General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said the blaze reportedly destroyed between 300 to 600 houses which were made from combustible construction materials.

Meanwhile, local disaster management office head Dr. Agripino Dacera Jr. said no casualties were reported.

Affected families have been evacuated to a gymnasium where they are awaiting government assistance.