MANILA, Philippines - At least 70 houses were razed in a fire that struck in a residential area in Cagayan de Oro City, late Wednesday night.

Chief Inspector Benigno Amomonpon, city fire chief, said the fire broke out around 10 p.m. in one of the houses in Zone 2, Barangay Cugman in the city's 2nd district.

Amomonpon said they are looking into 2 possible causes of the blaze, including an unattended candle or electrical short circuit.

He said that the 30-minute fire gutted at least P5 million worth of properties.

He added that 2 residents suffered minor burn wounds while trying to save their personal belongings at the height of the blaze.

Amomonpon, meanwhile, expressed concern over the increasing number of fire incidents in the city.

He said the blaze was the 8th incident they recorded this month. With a report from Maricel Tubardo, ABS-CBN Cagayan de Oro