SOME P2 million worth of properties went up in smoke when a fire a business center in Zamboanga Sibugay province, the police said Wednesday, February 20.

Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said the incident happened around 11:50 p.m. Tuesday at the wharf area in Malinao village, Mabuhay town.

Galvez said the fire started from a charcoal warehouse made of light materials situated at the wharf and escalated to the nearby residential houses and business establishments.

She said the fire gutted down 50 residential houses and 15 commercial establishments with an estimated worth of P2 million.

The fire was placed under control around 4:20 a.m. Wednesday, Galvez added.

She said the Bureau of Fire Protection is still in the process of determining the cause of the fire. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)