Fire destroys historic post office building in Manila, a nearly 100-year-old neoclassical landmark

According to police and postal authorities, a large fire ripped through Manila’s historic post office building overnight, mildly hurting one person and razing the almost 100-year-old monument in the Philippine capital. The fire erupted around midnight in the basement of the five-story neoclassical structure and was brought under control Monday morning, more than seven hours later, according to firemen. The Manila Central Post Office was one of the busiest office buildings in the city, although it was closed when the fire broke out. The structure served as the country’s major mail sorting and distribution hub, as well as the Philippine Postal Corporation’s headquarters.