Fire hits uptown area hotel

CEBU, Philippines — A fire broke out at White Knight Hotel Cebu along General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City yesterday morning following an explosion from the equipment room located at the basement.

The basement was reportedly rented out to an internet and telecommunication company that was affected by floods last Tuesday.

The Cebu City Fire Department received the alarm at around 8:45 a.m.

The firefighters arrived at around 8:50 a.m. It was declared under control at 10:22 a.m. and was extinguished at around 10:29 a.m.

The estimated damage was pegged at P200,000 while no person was reported injured.

"According sa atong nadawat na information, sa IT room kuno ni, according sa nag-manage diri sa ilang operations ba, sa basement," said Fire Officer 2 Emerson Arceo.

Arceo said that based on their initial investigation, the fire might have started because of the pressure inside the room believed to be closed and sealed.

"Katong baha man gud sa Mango last Tuesday, apil man gud to siya, nabahaan man to siya, unya naay mga sulod na equipment bitaw didto, pero according sa management sa kato gyud mismo na company, gi-off naman kuno nila ang source of electricity ato kay naa man silay separate nga circuit breaker," said Arceo.

The whole basement was assessed to be only a room for the equipment, namely rectifiers, and served as the integral part of their operation which is connected with the tower installed in the hotel.

The equipment were reportedly already been shut down right after the flooding.

"Mo-convert kuno ni siya og electricity na maoy mo-convert sa ilahang different device...mga sensitive gyud guro ni na mga equipment kay among gidudahan jud ani na cause kay na damage jud siya sa baha," said Arceo.

The firefighters have experienced difficulty in locating the basement due to thick smoke.

Arceo added that they are still investigating either the equipment room was turned on again right after the flood and to determine if this also triggered the explosion. — GMR (FREEMAN)