422 families lose homes

Friday, December 9, 2011

A TOTAL of 422 families lost their homes just days before Christmas as fire fanned by strong wind razed through the congested settlement at Davao Riverside in Barangay 1-A.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSD) already listed 123 homeowners, 141 renters, 22 boarders, and 236 home-sharers.

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Residents tried their best to douse the fire by forming a long line from the river to where the fire was blazing, armed only with pails that were passed from one person to the other.

Fire Officer 3 Ramil Gillado said the fire started at around 9:35 a.m. in the house of one Lou Ledesma and Rogelio Denos.

Firemen have difficulty to get in the fire scene because of the very narrow alleys in the area.

The cause of the fire is still being determined, and fire investigators are still in the process of estimating the damage.

However, according to some affected residents, the fire started from a lit stove that was left unattended, while others said it caused by an electric iron.

Most families failed to save much, as many of them were already at work when the fire started.

The basketball court behind the Grand Men Seng Hotel has been utilized as the temporary shelter for the victims.

Relief goods were immediately delivered and distributed by the City Government led by Malou Bermudo, while Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte was there to commiserate with the affected families. (With report from Alan Abais/ABS-CBN)