Firefighters working 'double time' to control Metro Ayala fire

AN OFFICIAL of the Bureau of Fire Protection on Saturday night said firefighters are working double time in an effort to place the fire that engulfs Metro Ayala Center Cebu under control by Sunday dawn, January 7.

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Central Visayas director Samuel Tadeo said firefighters are dousing with water in advance to prevent the flames from reaching the area where the mall's generator, which contained 8,000 liters of crude oil, is located.

Tadeo said that around 9 p.m. Saturday, January 6, strong winds fanned the fire inside Metro Ayala Center Cebu causing the blaze to flare up and rage through the establishment.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Nagiel Bañacia said that at 3 a.m. Saturday, the fourth floor of the Metro Ayala building collapsed.

Bañacia said the it might take two days for firefighters to control the raging inferno.

The blaze started at the toys stockroom in the third floor of the Metro Ayala department store around 9:30 p.m. Friday, January 5.

The Bureau of Fire Protection raised the alert level to Task Force Alpha, which means fire trucks from nearby cities have to respond.

No one was trapped inside the building, as customers and personnel were safely evacuated Friday night, said the mall management. (JOB/DDA/SunStar Cebu/SunStar Philippines)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph