Quito (Ecuador), Nov 21 (DPA) A serious fire destroyed 106 homes in a poor neighbourhood in Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador.

There were no immediately reports of deaths due to the fire which ravaged these homes Friday. However, the Ecuadorian Public Health Ministry said 14 children had to be admitted into hospital with symptoms of suffocation.

The neighbourhood Cooperativa Esmeraldas Chiquito, in southern Guayaquil, held many bamboo homes built close together, the Ecuadorian daily Hoy reported in its online edition.

The fire broke out shortly after midnight and was apparently caused by a short-circuit.