P105 milyong damage, 800 homeless

CEBU, Philippines — Two fires struck Metro Cebu over the weekend causing at least P105 million in damage to properties and displacing over 800 persons.

One fire gutted a poultry farm at 3:45 a.m. in Purok Myna, Sitio Tuburan, Brgy. Maslog, Danao City, causing an estimated damage of P101,325,000.

The poultry farm is owned by Robert Gadiongco from Cebu City.

Danao City Fire Marshall Marlyn Macatangay said that the fire, which reached second alarm, was placed under control at 5 a.m. and totally extinguished at 5:35 a.m.

Fire investigators are still investigating as to the cause of the almost two hour fire.

In Cebu City, another fire broke out in a densely populated area at 12:18 a.m. yesterday in Sitio Isla Alegre, Brgy. Basak San Nicolas, displacing 270 families comprising 810 individuals.

 FO1 Michael John S. Nable, fire investigator on case of the Cebu City Station, said initial investigation showed 125 houses were destroyed while five were partially burned.

He said the estimated damage to properties is P3 million.

No one was reported hurt during the fire, which was raised up to third alarm at 1:41 a.m.   The fire was put under control at 2:06 a.m. and was put out at 3:25 a.m.

 The fire reportedly started at the house of Erlinda Suerte but occupied by a certain Virgilio Suerte.  A total of 42 fire trucks responded to the fire, including 30 from fire volunteer brigades. Nable said the cause of fire is still under investigation.

As of press time, the Cebu City Department of Social Welfare and Services has already accounted 177 families and 685 individuals.

In response to the fire, the Cebu City Government right away opened the Basak Community School as evacuation center.

Packed meals were also given after the incident and for the next two days.

Iben Jumao-as, one of the affected individuals, claimed in an interview with The Freeman and Banat News that he was the first to notice when the fire broke out.

“Alas dose na gyud to kapin…Ang sunog dili inanay, derecho ba. Pagtan-aw nako sa among luyo, ulbo ng kayo. Mao to nisyagit ko nga sunog. Mao to pag-adto sa mga tawo, dili na matabang kay dako naman kaayo ang kayo,” he said.

He said it was so fast they were only able to bring with them some important document out before the flames engulfed their home.

He said the incident should be investigated deeply because threats were made before to burn the place whenever arguments would break out within the compound.

“Daghan na sila diha nagpuyo. Unya pag mag-away na sila, magsige og ingon nga sunugon ko ning balaya ron. Magsige'g ingon ana. Unya karon, nahitabo man ni rong sunog. Aw, mangambot lang sad kog unsa gyuy ilang kuan. Kinahanglan gyud na sila imbestigaran sad,”Jumao-as said.

Jumao-as also said this is the third time that a fire happened at the  Suerte residence, only that the previous ones were put out right away by neighbors.

“Kanang ilaha, ikatulo na ni nga higayon.Sige gyud nag kasunog ilaha, unya maluwas ras mga standby. Karon, sa ikatulo na, wa na gyud maluwas,” he said.

 Jumao-as did not say when the first two fire incidents happened, but on Jan. 26, 2015, a fire also hit the sitio, leaving over 400 individuals homeless. (CEBU NEWS)