MANILA: The Russian Embassy in the Philippine capital has been severely damaged after a blaze raged through its premises, authorities said on Saturday.

The fire began on the second floor of the building on Acacia Street in Makati City in metropolitan Manila on Friday evening.

Eighteen fire trucks scrambled for hours to put out the flames in the 1,000-square-meter area in the upscale Dasmarinas village, where embassies and diplomatic residences are located.