MANILA - FIRE officials said a father rescued three of his children from their burning house in the Philippine capital, then went back for his remaining son and died with the 12-year-old in his arms.

Fire Officer Lords Hernandez said 40-year-old Jimmy Yu and his son were trapped by flames that gutted 20 structures and left 250 people homeless in Manila's Chinatown district early on Monday.

He said investigators suspect faulty electrical wiring as a possible cause of the seven-hour blaze.

Mr Hernandez said Yu brought out three of his children and went back in for his 12-year-old but they never came out.

Firefighters later retrieved the charred bodies, which were found embracing each other.

Mr Yu's wife suffered burns on her face but survived. -- AP