Man dies as 200 homes razed in Zambo fire

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (UPDATED 5:24 p.m.) — More than 200 houses made of light materials were razed by fire in a slum village shortly before noon Monday here, leaving an elderly man dead.

The Bureau of Fire Protection said the conflagration hit the Caridad Compound at Barangay Tumaga, a village of mostly informal settlers.

City fire marshal Superintendent Domingo Zabala said fire probers have yet to establish the origin of the fire which quickly razed the whole village.

Zabala identified the victim as Solomon Aboso, 75, correcting earlier reports that two minors were among the fatalities. He said the two boys were survived the fire with minor burns.

Zabala said they have yet to assess the estimate damage brought by the fire.

Tumaga village chairperson Jackie Lim estimated more than 200 houses were destroyed from the fire citing the recent census there were about 285 houses were tagged in the area.

Lim said about 300 families were displaced from the fire and were temporarily housed in the village covered court.

The city government immediately provided relief assistance to the families affected by the fire incident.