CEBU – The Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council (CCDC) yesterday said that a total of 207 houses and four classrooms of the Alaska Elementary School were damaged by a fire that hit Alaska, Mambaling last Saturday.
The estimate of the damage wrought by the late afternoon blaze that took firemen about 45 minutes to control, is yet to be determined.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo, action officer of the CCDCC, said that at least 251 families and 1,308 individuals were affected by the fire.
Cebu City Fire Marshal Esmael Codilla, in a phone interview, said that they still could not determine the amount of damage as fire investigator FO3 Nilo Daculan was on day off yesterday.
Codilla, however, said that the investigation will resume today.
At least three witnesses will be summoned to shed light on how the fiure started.
There are allegations that the fire originated from the house of a certain Mobin.
Codilla said Mobin will be invited today to their office to shed light on what really caused the fire.
The city fire official said they are still to verify reports that the fire broke out because of the liquefied petroleum gas tank, which allegedly exploded. The CCDCC has provided food and clothing assistance to the victims.
“We provided food and material assistance including construction materials,” Carillo said.
Some of the 1,308 individuals affected by the said fire are housed at the Alaska Elementary School while some are at a nearby sports complex. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)