A TOTAL of 96 persons were rescued and airlifted to the rooftop of SM Megamall when fire broke out on the 27th floor of the Mega Tower in Mandaluyong City, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said.

The PAF said a S-76A helicopter "made a total of 15 shuttles" between the 50-story Mega Tower and SM Megamall to transport the 96 persons.

Damage from the fire was estimated at P26 million, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said Friday, September 3, 2021.

The BFP said two persons, identified as Severino Dequina, 26, and Henry Florida, 44, sustained lacerations and abrasions, respectively on their fingers.

The fire broke out at past 10 a.m. Thursday, September 2. It was declared fire out at around 3:50 p.m. on the same day.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

The PAF said a S-76A helicopter "made a total of 15 shuttles" between the 50-story Mega Tower and SM Megamall to transport the 96 persons. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)