Wednesday, November 14, 2007 2 perished in Cotabato fire By Malu Cadeliña Manar Of Sun.Star General Santos
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Two bodies were recovered from the ashes and other debris from a fire that razed a two-storey apartment and nearby establishments in Cotabato City, Tuesday dawn.
The search and rescue operatives led by Benjie Barga, also staff at the City Health Office, have yet to identify the victims.
"They were charred beyond recognition, that's why it's so difficult to identify them," said Barga.
Initial reports from the Bureau of Fire Protection showed that the fire started from the 8th door of Pimentel apartment, where the two bodies were found by firemen and fire volunteers.
But investigators have yet to find out what caused the fire.
The fire that lasted for two hours also razed a commercial building owned by Lino Hortinela.
Fire investigators estimated the damage around P2 million.
One of the occupants of the Pimentel apartment said she was so depressed when she learned of the incident as there was no time to salvage the things inside her quarters.
The fire had sent residents into panic.
Some of them said they have not yet recovered from the fire that gutted 200 houses and establishments last November 1.
Some of them have asked why there were series of fire incidents in the city and started doubting if these were caused by accidents or if a group is behind these.
This was the third fire that hit Cotabato City since November 1.
On All Saints Day, a fire razed around 200 houses and establishments, most of them made of light materials, which left some 500 families homeless.
Records showed the November 1 fire was the worst conflagration that hit the city since 1990.
While officials from the Bureau of Fire Protection in central Mindanao have yet to complete their investigations on the November 1 fire, another conflagration gutted three residential houses in Cotabato City.
