105 houses razed, 500 left homeless

CEBU, Philippines - There was no report of injuries or casualties, but fire investigators have said that the fire that hit a populous area in Tacloban City last Sunday (May 20) morning have razed 105 houses (not 500 as earlier reported by a TV network).

Authorities said the fire left 500 people or 122 families homeless, and initial estimates put about P32 million in losses of property.

Tacloban City Fire Marshall, Chief Insp. Adel Bautista, told the media that his men have been looking for a certain Melody Mendoza to shed light on the provenance of the fire. Three witnesses have pinpointed her house as where the fire started, after an explosion was heard, he said.

Bautista said they have ruled out arson but they surmised the fire was caused by either an LPG tank that exploded, or a cell phone charger or a stove that overheated. 

The fire broke out specifically in city’s Barangays 60 and 60-A, one of the city’s depressed areas. It immediately spread, gobbling the houses mostly made of light materials. The other side of the community was the sea, and winds from there fanned the flames further making the fire harder to control, Bautista explained.

Volunteer firefighters from the Tacloban Chamber Brigade and Delta Chamber immediately responded to the scene, including those from neighboring towns of Palo, Alang Alang, Tolosa, Tanauan and Sta. Fe. Concerned quarters also scrambled to help the victims.

Mayor Alfred Romualdez ordered the nearby 5000-seat Tacloban Convention Center or Astrodome to be converted into a temporary shelter for the homeless victims. The mayor further announced the city will give shelter assistance to the victims and help relocate them if needed.

His wife, Councilor Cristina Romualdez personally led the feeding and distribution of relief goods, while nursing mothers were given milk for their babies, a feeding bottle and even diapers.

An Waray party-list Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel, who also lives nearby, also ordered the putting up of tents at the mini-gym the party-list has constructed in the area. His “BN” volunteers also geared into action to repack relief goods and distribute these to the victims.

Bert Malate, executive director of An Waray said they have already put up a help desk to facilitate the release to the victims some shelter rebuilding assistance.  - THE FREEMAN