At least 81 houses razed in Suba fire

CEBU, Philippines - At least 81 houses were destroyed when a fire hit a residential area in Barangay Suba, Cebu City past 11 a.m. yesterday.

Six other houses and the Cebu City Fish Market incurred damage.

The fire was placed under control at nearly 3 p.m.

Fire Investigator Edwin Handayan of the San Nicolas Fire Station, said the fire started at the kitchen of the house owned by the Bitor family.

Details as to what happened remained sketchy as of yesterday but initial investigation revealed an explosion was heard from the kitchen. The daughter of Gaspar and Lorina Bitor, Shiela, was reportedly cooking when the fire erupted.  

Handayan clarified no one died in the incident.

The fire spread quickly because most of the houses in the area were made of light materials.

Corazon Aban, 59, lost all three of her houses and did not recover any of her belongings.

"Mangayo mi og tabang sa gobyerno kay bag-ohay rami naka-recover sa niagi nga sunog," Aban pleaded.

Suba Captain Joel Sable, Jr. said the survivors will be housed temporarily at the barangay sports complex. (FREEMAN)