Cavite City declares state of calamity due to massive fire

MANILA, Philippines — Cavite City declared a state of a calamity on Tuesday after homes of more than 900 families were destroyed in a massive fire.

City Mayor Denver Christopher Chua posted aerial images showing the extent of the damage of the blaze that spread across several blocks.

The fire, which razed several villages on Sunday, July 14, left hundreds of families without homes. They were evacuated to a temporary shelter.

"Sa loob lamang ng ilang oras ang tirahan na pinaghirapan itayo ng mahigit 900 na pamilya sa Badjao, Dalahican, Cavite City ay biglang naglaho dahil sa sunog," Chua wrote in a Facebook post.

Before and after photos of the damage of a fire that spread across several villages in Cavite City on Sunday, July 14, 2024, as seen in this social media post of Mayor Denver Chua.

"Bagamat halos walang natira sa mga kabahayan sa lugar na ito ay naniniwala ako na sa ating pag tutulungan ay muli silang makakabangon!" the mayor added.

The state of calamity was declared based on the endorsement of the city council and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Republic Act 10121 defines a "state of calamity" as a "condition involving mass casualty and/or major damage to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people in the affected area as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard."

Areas under a state of calamity allows government to access calamity funds to respond to casualties, impose price freeze for basic necessities and grant no-interest loans. — reports from John Marwin Elao