AT LEAST 20 houses were destroyed in a fire that hit Sitio Guiwanon, Barangay Looc in Lapu-Lapu City on Saturday night, March 30, leaving some 180 individuals homeless.

Investigators from the Lapu-Lapu City Fire Department have yet to determine the cause of the blaze, which reportedly started at around 9 p.m.

Regina Ybanez, Barangay Looc village chief, said she and her fellow village officials were conducting an assembly when she received the fire alarm.

FO3 Lyndon Urbiztondo of the Lapu-Lapu City Fire Department said they declared the fire under Task Force Bravo at 10 p.m.

Around 10 fire volunteers from the cities of Mandaue and Talisay and the municipalities of Cordova, Compostela and Consolacion assisted the local fire department in putting out the blaze.

Andy Berame, head of the Lapu-Lapu City Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said they brought the affected families to the barangay gym, which will serve as their temporary shelter.

Ybañez asked the City to prioritize the needs of the fire victims such as food and blankets. (JKV)