AT least 200 individuals were left homeless after a Monday morning fire hit a thickly populated community in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City.
Data from the city’s command center and the barangay hall showed that a total of 19 homes were gutted by the fire, while three others were partially damaged.
Felix Suico, head of the city’s disaster risk reduction management office, said verification of fire victims by the city social welfare office was ongoing as of 6 p.m. yesterday.
Paknaan barangay captain Malaquias Soco said the fire victims were asked to stay at their barangay gym, but they preferred to stay close to their burnt homes.
“Layoan kuno sila. Didto lang kuno sila. Dili man pud nato sila mapugos,” he said.
Soco said he directed barangay workers to install tents close to the fire site which the fire victims could occupy.
He also had a mini-kitchen set up in the area so barangay personnel can start cooking meals for the fire victims.
Soco said the fire which affected his barangay was believed to have been caused by electrical misuse.
He said there were reports that a cellphone was being charged and may have been left by its owner on the second floor of the house of a certain Oscar Rodado, causing the fire.
SFO3 Arnold Lao of Mandaue Fire Station said they received the alarm at 10:14 a.m. and were able to put the fire under control at 10:48 a.m.