85 houses lost as fires hit Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines - Three fires hit neighboring cities Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue yesterday, affecting a total of 85 houses.

The first occurred midnight in Purok Bayabas, Barangay Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City, razing at least 17 houses, most of which were made of light materials.

Canjulao barangay captain Nestor Paypa said 23 families (131 individuals) were left homeless. They are housed temporarily at the Canjulao Elementary School. Some have taken shelter with their relatives.

 Fire Officer 1 Rouel Brañanola said the fire started at the house of one Gigi Estrera and was found to have been caused by electrical misuse. 

Firefighters received the alarm at 12:10 a.m. and placed the fire under control after about nine minutes. Damage was pegged at P160,000.

The first fire in Mandaue City erupted past 2 p.m. and damaged 68 houses in Sumalinog Compound in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia.

 Felix Suico Jr., chief of the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said the fire also ate up a portion of the houses in the adjacent Barangay Guizo.

 Suico said the alarm was received 2:10 p.m. and firefighters put the fire out completely at at 3:50 p.m.

Investigators are still investigating the cause of the fire. Some of the houses were reportedly made of light materials.

Even before authorities can finish investigating the fire in Ibabao-Estancia, another one erupted at a residential area near the abandoned public market in Centro at past 5 p.m. It was put out after about 30 minutes.  (FREEMAN)