Two boys were declared missing while at least 15 structures were burned by a fire which hit barangay Cogon in Cordova town in Mactan late yesterday afternoon.
Parents of Niño Jakeson Colonia, 7, and Cornelio Cañete, 7, continued their search of the missing boys as of 8 p.m.
Cheryl Colonia said her five children including Niño were left at home in sitio Gemelina while she and her husband went to work.
Except for Niño, she located four of her children when the fire was placed under control about 7:30 p.m.
Merlinda Canete was also worried of the whereabouts of Cornelio who was last seen at home when fire broke at the nearby residence of Junrey Baguio.
Cordova fire marshal Marilyn Macatangay said a leaking LPG tank at Baguio’s home started the fire.
It spread to nearby structures also made of light materials.
The fire site sitio Gemelina is a thickly populated urban poor community with limited road access allowing only the entry of one fire truck at a time.
Fire broke at about 5:30 p.m. and lasted for two hours.
Cogon barangay officials were expected to convene for an emergency session last night to declare sitio Gimelina under a state of calamity so they could release calamity aid to fire victims who were temporarily relocated to the barngay hall and health center.