Hundreds of villagers were left homeless after a massive fire ate through their houses in the Philippines.

The fire was said to have broken out at a two-storey home and spread through Mantuyong village in Cebu province, on March 3.

Video shows terrified residents watching as the inferno ripped through the clustered homes made of flammable material. Dark smoke billowed from the area as firefighters tackled the blaze.

The local fire department said they received a report at 2:46 pm. Officers brought the flames under control by 3:35 pm, and fully extinguished them by 4:42 pm.

Fire Officer 1 Niel Amancio of the Mandaue Fire Station said: 'The fire lasted about an hour, but because the area was densely populated, we had a hard time reaching it. The road was also narrow. Tere was a stream on the other side. That's where we collected water to douse the fire.'

Authorities said there were no injuries or casualties. The property damage was estimated at 760,000 PHP (around 10,500 GBP).

Local village chief Julius Ceasar Agreopagita said at least 60 homes were completely burned, displacing some 500 individuals. The affected residents were staying at a local school and an indoor sports court being used as temporary evacuation centres.

Officials said they were investigating the cause of the fire, which is the third major blaze in the province this month.

The Philippine government declared March as Fire Prevention Month to raise awareness about fire safety and reduce fire-related incidents under Presidential Proclamation No. 115-A.

Throughout the month, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) leads various activities, including fire drills, seminars, and public information campaigns. March marks the start of the hot, dry season in the Southeast Asian country, when fires are more common due to increased temperatures.