A Monday morning fire hit Sitio Club Kawayan in Barangay Mambaling past 5 a.m. today, March 15. | Photo screenshot from Cebu City Fire FB live
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The barangay captain of Mambaling is appealing to kindhearted individuals in the barangay, who could spare some clothes and food for 344 fire victims, whose houses were razed during this early morning fire, March 15, in Sitio Club Kawayan of the barangay.
Barangay Captain Gines Abellana has assured that the barangay would take care of the daily needs of the 344 individuals displaced by the fire.
Despite this, Abellana also appealed to those kindhearted Mambaling residents to help provide clothes and food for the victims, who escaped from the fire with only the clothes on their back.
READ: Monday morning fire razes 30 houses in Brgy Mambaling
As of 11 a.m. today, March 15, the Cebu City Fire Department updated their count of the houses razed by the morning fire from 30 to 59.
With 344 individuals displaced.
Abellana also said that those who would donate could bring their donations to the barangay hall of Mambaling.
He also said that the barangay was coordinating with the city government for the housing materials for the fire victims.
However, he said he was not sure if the fire victims would be allowed to return to rebuild their houses because this lot is a private-owned lot.
Depende sa tag-iya sa yuta, kung mu okay ang tag iya sa yuta, makabalik. Kung dili sad sila mu okay…wa tay mahimo labi na og kuralon ni sa tag-iya.
(It will depend on the landowner, if he’s okay, then they will go back to the area. If not, then we can’t do anything, especially if the owner will close off the area with a fence.)
WATCH: Fire alarm in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City this early morning of March 15
Meanwhile, FO3 Emerson Arceo of Cebu City Fire Department said that they were still investigating the possible cause of the fire.
Arceo said that they were also verifying allegations that a young man, who was allegedly a drug user, started the fire.
He said this report had yet to be verified.
He also said that they were not also discounting the possibility that faulty electrical wiring could have caused the fire.
The March 15 fire in Sitio Club Kawayan was reported at 5:22 a.m., was raised to the second alarm at past 6 a.m., and was put out at past 7 a.m.
Fire investigators estimated the cost of damage to property at P150,000.
READ: Mambaling fire hits heavily populated community
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