Fire hits 3 barangays in Jolo

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines —More than 5,000 families in three barangays in Jolo, Sulu were displaced in a fire on Tuesday.

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman said around 3,000 houses were destroyed and 26,000 residents of Barangays Bus-bus, Walled City and Lambayong were affected.

Chief Superintendent Graciano Mijares, ARMM police director, said arson probers have yet to determine what caused the fire, which started at around 2:30 p.m. and was declared out before midnight yesterday.

Jolo Mayor Kerkhar Tan said they have not received reports on casualties in the fire, which he described as the worst to hit the town after the attack of Moro National Liberation Front rebels in 1974.

Initial damage was estimated at P35 million.       

“Our town and the provincial government cannot do it alone. We need the assistance of the regional government... We are also appealing to President Duterte to help us,” Tan said. – Emmanuel Tupas, John Unson