CEBU, Philippines - Fire destroyed a one-story building which housed five business establishments in barangay Poblacion, Liloan yesterday dawn.
The fire burned two eateries and an HLhuillier pawnshop.
The establishment, made of mixed materials, was owned by Mita Mendoza and Ester Balberde.
Fire investigator SFO3 Rolando Capoy said the alarm was relayed to the department at around 1 a.m. by a motorcycle-for-hire driver and police officials. The fire was over by 4 a.m.
Firefighters said the fire could be attributed to unattended cooking or electrical misuse at the eatery.
“Ningbuto man ang linya sa kuryente during sa sunog,†Capoy said.
No one was reported injured.
Capoy said the jewelry and money belonging to HLhuillier remained inside a heat resistant vault.
Firemen kept their distance from the fire because the supply of electricity to the building was not cut off.
A contractor of the VECO arrived at the area at around 3 a.m.
Damage to property was pegged at P400,000. (FREEMAN)