ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Thick smokes billowed as three separate conflagration incidents hit the city Thursday afternoon, but firetrucks were prevented from closing in by the volley of fires coming from the rebels positioned in various sites at Barangay Sta. Barbara in this city.
The conflagration hit the motorpool of Zamboanga State College of Marine Science and Technology (ZSCMST) in Barangay Sta. Barbara and two areas in sitio Lustre in Barangay Sta. Catalina where residential houses were affected.
Fire marshal Senior Superintendent Dominador Zabala Jr. said the fire hit the danger level.
“We were prevented by (gunshots from) the rebels,†Zabala said.
He said the firetrucks and firemen were being fired at by the rebels.
Authorities believed that the fire, set by the mortars fired by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels, spread to the block of Lustre toward Martha drive in Sta. Catalina.
The fire was also spreading in several houses in Sta. Barbara and firetrucks could not get close to the fire.
Troops are trying to provide cover fire to the firemen. - Roel Pareño