Fire leaves 500 families homeless in Tandag City

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – At least 500 families composed of more than 1,500 individuals were left homeless in a fire that hit a village in Tandag City on Saturday.

Mayor Roxanne Pimentel appealed to the public to help the victims, whom she said need food and other items such as blankets, used clothing, medicine, mats and cooking utensils.

The city fire marshall office said the blaze occurred at around 2:50 p.m. and destroyed more than 300 houses mostly made of light materials in Purok Kalipayan, Barangay Bongtud.

The victims were sheltered at the city gymnasium and classrooms of a nearby school.

Arson investigators said they have yet to determine the cause of the fire that destroyed some P30 million worth of property.