P1.2M lost in Punta Princesa fire

CEBU, Philippines -  A man sustained third degree burns while around P1.2 million worth of properties, including two cars and two motorcycles, were gutted in the fire that destroyed over five houses in Tres de Abril Street, Barangay Punta Princesa, at around 2:00 in the morning yesterday.

Five houses were gutted down and one was partially damaged by the fire at Beltran Compound yesterday morning.

Fire Officer 3 Andrew Omar Segovia of the Cebu City Fire Department estimated the damages at 1.2 million.

Initial investigation showed that the fire started from the kitchen of a house owned by a certain Mary Grace Abella.

According to Abella’s brother, Jun-Jun Beltran, 59, one of the residents of Beltran Compound, he was about to get some food in their house when he saw the kitchen of Abella’s house already ablaze.

He immediately called his brother-in-law, Edgardo Abella, 57, a city engineer, and shouted “Fire!”

Beltran said they tried to put out the blaze but failed.

The Cebu City Fire Department together with the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) and the Filipino-Chinese Brigade put out the fire in 28 minutes.

Edgardo sustained third degree burns after he went back inside their house to wake-up his wife, children and house helper.

“Pagnaog na niya naabtan lang gyud siya sa kayo. Pag-gawas niya sa pultahan pila ka steps niya natumba na siya kay ga-kayo na man siya hasta iyang buhok ga-kayo na”, Beltran said.

According to the victim’s daughter, Mary Cienne Abella, her father was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center and was later transferred to Chong Hua Hospital.

Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire.

The FREEMAN Sports Editor Emmanuel Villaruel also lost his home and his belongings in the fire.  (FREEMAN)