Returning Zambo City evacuees lose homes to fire

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Families returning to their homes in Barangay Kasanyangan here after evacuating at the height of the siege by Moro National Liberation Front rebels found themselves eventually homeless Wednesday night.

This, as a fire struck at around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, razing at least 50 houses made of light materials in Ituralde village. The fire quickly spread and also gutted the houses near the mangrove area, said Superintendent Dominador Zabala Jr., the city’s fire marshal.

Zabala said firefighters had a hard time putting the blaze under control as the village had narrow roads and was situated near the mangrove area.

Zabala said they were still investigating the cause of the fire that displaced more than 200 evacuees who were just about to return to their homes. Damage was placed at P1 million.