CEBU, Philippines - At least 20 houses made of wood were destroyed as fire erupted and spread quickly in barangay Ibo, Lapu-Lapu City yesterday afternoon.
Firefighters immediately rushed to the scene as soon as the alarm was received, Lapu-Lapu City Fire Marshal Chief Inspector Recardo Cornelio said.
Investigators suspect faulty electrical wiring as the cause of the fire.
“Mao kini ang unang sunog sa dakbayan sa Lapu-Lapu samtang kita nag-selebrar sa atong Fire Prevention Month,” Cornelio said.
The Fire Prevention Month aims to create public awareness on the importance of fire safety and prevention.
“Kasagaran sa mga nasunogan sa maong dapit mga boarding houses ug mga balay nga adunay nag-abang gumikan kay kilid kini sa MEPZ 1 likod nga bahin sa Lear Corporation (Most of the houses in the area provide accommo-dations to workers employed by firms at MEPZ 1),” he said.
Cornelio said firefighters had a difficult time getting through because of the area’s narrow road.
“Sa kagamay sa dalan kinahanglan nga among sumpaysumpayon ang mga hose (Our hoses had to be connected to one another in order to get to the scene and extinguish the flames),” he said.
The fire allegedly started from the house of a certain Rebecca Amimita, who was fetching her children from school when the fire broke out.
SFO1 Atilano Berido, one of the investigators, said a cable wire taken from one of the houses would be examined to find out whether an electrical short circuit triggered the fire.
Barangay Ibo Captain Ferdinand Cahilog said fire victims will be temporarily sheltered at the barangay sports complex.– Garry B. Lao (FREEMAN NEWS)