CEBU CITY – At least P3 million in properties were destroyed in a fire that broke out in one of the city’s most populated areas at past noon Tuesday.
Two-hundred seventy-three houses were destroyed in the that affected three sitios in Barangay Ermita.
The fire displaced 629 families or 2,578 persons, said acting Barangay Ermita Captain Efe Rupinta.
Four residents were injured, suffering burns in their bodies while trying to salvage some valuables from their burning houses.
Rupinta said there were reports that the fire started in a house owned by certain Ronron Sarmiento in Sitio Pig Vendor where the man’s five-year-old child was seen playing matches before the fire broke out.
The Sarmientos, however, denied that the fire originated from their house.
Since most of the houses were made of light materials, flames quickly spread to neighboring houses in Sitio Bato and Sitio Kastilaan.
The fire started at 1:15 p.m. and was raised to general alarm an hour later. The fire was put under control at 3:07 p.m. (Calvin Cordova)
