CEBU, Philippines - Five houses were razed when a fire hit Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City before noon yesterday.
Three of the houses were destroyed while the rest were damaged by the fire that struck Sitio Sandayong at 11 a.m., the Cebu City Fire Department reported. The fire was controlled in 20 minutes.
An elderly woman, who was among the nine people reportedly trapped inside a house, was hurt. She is now reportedly in safe condition.
Residents claimed that the fire started at the house of one Felix Laborte along J. Labra Street.
A certain Jomjom Pamor alleged that he saw thick smoke coming from Laborte’s house, prompting him to immediately inform his neighbors and ask for help.
The fire reportedly spread to the house of the Carillo family, where the injured woman and eight other family members were reportedly trapped.
Another resident, Jeffrey Solomon, heard the victims at the living room shouting for help.
He then quickly placed a ladder outside the window where the victims climbed down one by one.
Senior Fire Officer 2 Emiliano Daño said they are still investigating what triggered the fire.
Daño said they will also ask the witnesses to possibly determine where the fire actually originated.
The fire investigator pegged the damaged at P300,000. (FREEMAN)