A huge fire ripped through a village leaving hundreds homeless in the Philippines.

The blaze broke out in the Mampang area of Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Sur province and rapidly spread throughout the residential area composed mostly of flammable wooden houses on September 18.

Footage shows a thick black smoke plume billowing from the community while sirens were heard.

Local media reported that the blaze had destroyed around 120 homes, with some 300 families taking temporary shelter at the Arena Blanco school being used as an evacuation centre nearby.

Christopher Morales, Zamboanga City Fire Department marshal, said the inferno lasted for more than four hours, and began at the residence of a 70-year-old local.

Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe has visited the scene to provide aid to the fire victims.

Authorities were probing the cause of the accident.