Fire razes 22 houses

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — At least 22 houses in Cauayan town in southern Negros Occidental were hit by fire Monday afternoon.

Cauayan Mayor John Rey Tabujara said the fire hit Brgy. Guiljungan, a coastal village, at 2:30 p.m. and destroyed 19 houses and damaged three, all of which were made of bamboo and nipa.

The fire left 127 residents homeless, and they are temporarily housed at the Guiljungan Elementary School, said Tabujara.

Initial investigation said the fire might have come from a stove in one of the houses.