MANILA, Philippines (4th UPDATE) – The blaze that struck the Manila campus of the University of the East (UE) on Saturday morning, April 2, left damage estimated to be worth P22 million, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.

The fire, which started at 9:35 am, was declared under control as of 10:38 am, according to Fire Officer 3 Fatima Felix of the BFP-National Capital Region (BFP-NCR). Fire out was declared at 5:21 pm, she added.

Student publication The Dawn reported the fire broke out in the College of Arts and Sciences building. Felix said about 25 firetrucks were deployed to put out the fire. 

In a statement issued at 1 pm, the university said the school chapel and two college buildings – College of Arts and Sciences and College of Engineering – were affected by the fire.

No casualties were reported.

BFP arson investigator Sany Lacuban told Rappler Saturday evening that the damage caused by the fire was pegged at around P22 million.

Both Lacuban and the university said the actual cause of the fire is still being investigated.

In its statement, the university said, “UE Manila, as well as the other UE campuses, are on heightened security alert to ensure the safety of everyone in the UE community.”

The university’s main campus in Manila will be closed to students and visitors on Monday, April 4.

All other UE campuses – UE Caloocan, UE Annex Building, and UE Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center – will be open.

‪The incident comes just a day after fire also engulfed the Faculty Center of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus. – with a report from Bea Orante/Rappler.com‬