Ermita fire victims increase in number

CEBU, Philippines - Two days after a huge fire razed hundreds of homes in Sitio Bato, Barangay Ermita, the number of casualties and affected individuals has increased.

Based on the data gathered by Cebu City Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) as of Monday noon, the number of individuals affected rose from 2,076 to 2,078.

From 462, the number of families went up to 478, while the houses burned increased from 237 to 262.

“But these numbers are still subject for ongoing verification. It could go up, or down. In fact, we have staff members who are verifying the information right now,” DSWS chief Ester Concha told The FREEMAN.

Concha was manning the temporary shelter for fire victims at Ermita sports complex when The FREEMAN yesterday visited the area.

Red Cross volunteers along with city government employees were distributing pack lunch and attending to immediate health concerns of the victims.

About 500 individuals are squeezing at the sports complex with the others staying at the chapel.

“Dili kaayo mi ka determine kung pila gyud kay mag balhin-balhin man gud sila dinhi, unya muadto duol sa ilang balay. But more or less, there are about 500 staying here,” the DSWS chief said.

San Vicente Catholic chapel in Sitio Bato also housed about 20 families who lost their homes. “Sa pagka-karon, dili pa gyud mi okay kay wala na man mi balay. Pero gitabangan ra man sad mi sa barangay ug sa city. Hatagan mi’g pagkaon,” fire victim Leonora Calit told The FREEMAN.

Apart from the infant casualty confirmed by DSWS, a 46 year-old woman also died of heart attack when the fire broke. Belinda Cabigon, mother of five, accordingly died while worriedly looking for her children.

“Natulog siya pagsugod sa sunog mao ako siyang gipukaw. Unya ako siyang gidala sa safe nga lugar layo sa kayo. Sige siyag pangita sa mga bata, ingon ko relax lang ka kay ako silang pangitaon. Pagbalik nako, mao na to gitabang na siya,” Cabigon’s partner Mario Sisgados told The FREEMAN.

Cabigon was brought to Cebu City Medical Center but died a few hours after, Sisgados said. The head of the household said the barangay helped them in the funeral services. Concha said the victims will certainly receive P10,000 burial assistance from the city government.

Meanwhile, fire investigators are looking at the information that illegal drug session had caused last Sunday’s inferno. Fire Officer 3 Lowel Opolentisima said they received reports that there were people having drug session at the house of Toribio Flores, Jr. where the fire started.

“Daghan ta og gitan-aw nga posibling hinungdan apil na nang naa kunoy nag pot session kay suyopanan kuno ang balay (we are looking at several angles including a pot session because the house is allegedly used as drug den)”, Opolentisima said in a telephone interview.

The house owner will be summoned by the fire department for investigation. (FREEMAN)