FIVE hundred individuals were left homeless after a fire hit three sitios in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City on Wednesday morning, Sept. 18, 2019.

The affected sitios are Wangyu, Abbya and Ipil-ipil; the blaze destroyed nearly 100 houses that were mostly made of concrete and wood.

Mambaling Councilor Roseller Salvador said Wangyu and Ipil-ipil were severely affected by the fire.

At 11:07 a.m., the Bureau of Fire Protection in Cebu City received the alarm.

The city’s fire station controlled the fire from spreading to other sitios at 12:05 p.m.

The fire damaged about P700,000 worth of properties.

According to SFO3 Oliver Tautho, initial investigation showed that the fire reportedly started at the house of a certain Mamerto “Anjun” Ravena Jr.

The blaze may have been caused by a faulty electrical connection after Ravena’s neighbor saw fire at the house’s ceiling, but Tautho said this still has to be investigated.

The other information Tautho received was that someone was cooking and abandoned it.

Ravena’s neighbor, Antonieta Ladungga, who was awakened by screams, said she was told that chidlren playing with match sticks caused the fire.

Tautho said he is gathering more statements from witnesses to establish the real cause of the blaze. FROM FMD OF SUPERBALITA CEBU / KAL