Fire razes Cebu shopping mall

MANILA, Philippines — Less than a month after a fire engulfed a shopping mall in Davao City that left 38 people dead, another blaze hit a mall in the central Philippine city of Cebu on Friday night.

In a statement, Ayala Center Cebu said a smoke was detected at around 9:30 p.m. from the Metro Ayala building, adding that all customers and personnel were safely evacuated.

“The Metro Ayala Emergency Brigade Team and Ayala Center Cebu Emergency Brigade Team are working with the Bureau of Fire and other emergency response teams,” it said.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management chief Nagiel Bañacia said the fire started on the third floor of the establishment, which houses the toy stockroom.

Amid pouring rain, the blaze persisted even after six hours of firefighting, Bañacia added.

In a Facebook post at 6:18 a.m., Bañacia shared pictures showing smoke still billowing from Metro Ayala nine hours after the fire was reported.

Authorities reportedly raised the fire alarm to Task Force Alpha, prompting all fire stations in nearby cities and towns to help douse the blaze.

They also worry that the structure might collapse due to scorching heat from the flames.

Reports also quoted Bañacia as saying that the mall’s sprinkler system didn’t work when the fire broke out and reached the top floor of the establishment.

In an advisory posted at 8:00 a.m., administrators of the Ayala Center Cebu said the mall will be closed on Saturday, January 6.

According to an update by The Freeman, Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak fears that the building can no longer be used because of the extreme damage caused by the fire.