AT LEAST 19 homes were reported to be totally burned after a fire began at 12:30 a.m. in Lapaz 2, Kolambog, Lapasan village, Cagayan de Oro City.
Arlene Siesmondo woke up half an hour after midnight witnessing their house being eaten by heavy flames on Tuesday, December 13.
“Nakamata na lang mi dako na ang kalayo, sa kuryente, wire naa man nakakita nga nagsila-sila. Nakamata mi pero na paso-paso, bag-o pa gayud mi nakatulog. Wala gayud mi nahipos tapot lawas ra gyud, nakaabli mi didto sa silong didto mi nangagi (We woke up to a huge fire. It all began with the electric wiring. Someone saw it. We had just gone to bed but woke up with slight burns. We were not able to keep anything except the clothes we're wearing. We were able to exit downstairs),” said Siesmondo.
Authorities said the fire started at the second floor of Siesmondo’s house and spread quickly to neighboring houses.
Erlita Mamat of Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said the fire affected 109 individuals, including five bed spacers and 14 boarders.
“Ang home owners nga totally damaged gayud is 19, 17 pa ang among na interview, ang total sa individuals as of karon is nadugangan na siya og five so 109 na kay 104 man to ang una, duna ta’y upat nga nakaangkon og 2nd degree nga burn (The number of damaged houses is 19. We interviewed 17 home owners and five individuals have been added so the total number now is 109 because it was 104 before. Four people have suffered from second degree burns),” Mamat said.
The total damage cost was estimated at P1.5 million. The fire was declared under control around 1:45 a.m.
The 19 families will be spending Christmas and New Year at Lapasan evacuation center while some have stayed at friends and relatives’ homes.
The City Social Welfare and Development has initiated the distribution of relief goods to the victims including basic necessities such as rice, blankets and canned goods.
The office also noted its intention to give financial aid to the fire victims based on the estimated damage cost of their burned properties.
The Bureau of Fire Protection said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.