MANILA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- A fire tore through a residential area in the Philippines' Makati City early Saturday, killing two elderly residents and injuring six others, the local fire protection bureau said.

The blaze broke out on the second floor of a house and spread rapidly through the densely populated community within minutes, the bureau reported.

Firefighters battled the flames for nearly five hours before declaring the fire under control and eventually extinguishing it.

Arson investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire, while authorities are also assessing the extent of damage to properties in the affected area. ■