Ancestral house goes up in flames

CEBU, Philippines - Fire destroyed an ancestral home in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City Friday evening.

The house, owned by Dulce Perez, was made of light materials. It also served as a commercial establishment.

Firefighters placed the fire under control in 15 minutes.

Investigators said the fire started from a bakeshop on the ground floor of the two-story house.

Joselito Alburo, the baker, said he heard a loud explosion before the fire.

An 81-year-old man, dependent on oxygen, was taken to hospital. At the time of the fire, the supply of electricity to the house was cut off, and the machine that was used to pump oxygen to the man failed to function.

Damage to the property was put at P100,000.