Carreta fire leaves 61 residents homeless
CEBU, Philippines — At least 12 families or 61 individuals were displaced by a fire that hit Sitio Malinaw, Barangay Carreta, Cebu City on Valentine’s Day.
Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, head of the city’s Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS), said the fire razed eight houses.
No injuries or deaths from the area were reported, he said.
He said the fire victims are currently staying at the barangay's gym.
According to Ibones, the immediate needs of the victims include water, food, hygiene kits, and blankets.
The city government, he said, already distributed food packs to the victims. Each pack contained kilos of rice and canned goods.
“Nakapakaon mi nila for a day," he added.
The city government will also provide the victims financial assistance—P20,000 each for the home owners, while P10, 000 each for the renters.
Fire Officer 2 Emerson Arceo of the Cebu City Fire Department earlier said that the fire started on the second floor of the house owned by a certain Jonel.
Arceo said the fire could have been caused by the unchecked wirings of a 10-year-old air-conditioning unit.
The owner reportedly admitted that the unit had not been checked since it was installed about 10 years ago.
Fire authorities pegged the initial cost of damage to property at P80,000.
The blaze was declared under control at 6:40 a.m., roughly 26 minutes after it was reported at 6:14 a.m. It was pronounced fire out at 6:52 a.m. KQD (FREEMAN)
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