MANILA, Jan. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Eight people were killed and four others seriously burnt when a fire razed a two-story commercial-residential house in the densely populated Sampaloc college district in northern Manila early Sunday morning, said police and fire investigators.

    Citing initial investigation, Manila fire investigators said the fire broke out at the kitchen of the building around 03:30 a.m.local time.

    Fire investigator Guillermo Fernalin told Xinhua that the exactcause of the fire is under investigation but the fire originated from the kitchen on the ground floor.

    A police officer said earlier a faulty electric wire was apparently the cause of the fire, which started at a water station selling drinking water at the ground floor of the house.

    Police officer Leo Marquez said the fire broke out soon after some 20 boarders of the house had finished a drinking party on the second floor, which was a dormitory for workers and students from nearby universities, including the prestigious Sto. Tomas University and Far East University.

    Several victims were burned beyond recognition and some of the identified victims were aged from 19 to 25.

    Manila is one of the most densely populated cities in the worldwith a 8 million population living in congested residential districts and ghettos mainly consisting of old running down wooden two-story or three-story houses. The city was hit by more than 400 fires last year.

    Because of daily outbreak of fires, the government is short of fire engines and firemen to deal with the volatile situation. The local Filipino-Chinese communities have established their own volunteer fire brigades.    Enditem