ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines — Fire engulfed three villages in Iloilo City as Ilonggos here celebrated the annual Dinagyang Festival Sunday night.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the fire totally destroyed some 409 roomss and partially damaged 19 in the Tanza-Esperanza, Tanza-Timawa and Malipayon-Delgado districts in the city.

The fire started past 5 P.M., Sunday and was put under control after more than three hours as firefighters had difficulty penetrating the shanty area, which had pedestrian-size streets.

The fire displaced more than 500 families, with no one reported hurt.

Meanwhile, the city government has already started a 10-day feeding program to help the victims, who are mostly poor residents.

Agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Presidential Management Staff (PMS), Philippine Red Cross (PRC-Iloilo), Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) and others pledged to assist the city government in helping the needs of the fire victims.

Mabilog also appealed to the citizenry, particularly the private sector, to donate food, water, and used clothing to the victims.

This is not the first time tragedy hit Iloilo City during the height of the Dinagyang festival. Two years ago, during the 2010 Dinagyang Festival, a fire which broke out in the La Paz district destroyed 112 homes and left one dead.