THE Zamboanga City Government has distributed relief goods to help alleviate the plight of 66 families displaced by fire that destroyed on Saturday a commercial center in the east coast.

Socorro Rojas, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) chief, the relief assistance were distributed on Sunday, June 3, by her personnel in coordination with the other offices concerned.

Rojas on Monday said the distributed relief goods included food packs, bottled water and non-food items like used clothes, blankets, mats, jerrycans, and kitchen utensils.

Rojas said the 66 affected families consisting of 188 individuals are temporarily sheltered at the covered court of Curuan village and with their families living nearby.

Superintendent Jufel Brañanola, city fire marshal, said that 15 residential houses and 50 market stalls were razed by the fire that broke out at 8:49 p.m. Saturday in Curuan.

Brañanola said the fire started at the residence of the Jesus Pagotaisidro and rapidly spread towards the market site of the village.

He placed the estimated cost of damages at P3 million caused by the fire that reached fourth alarm.

Meanwhile, Rojas said they are conducting assessment on the fire victims to determine the financial assistance they will be entitled.

“Most of them are house renters,’ Rojas added.

Curuan is one of the business growth centers at the eastern part of this city. (SunStar Philippines)