MANILA, Philippines — A fire that hit the Metro Gaisano-Ayala, a popular department store in Cebu City, on Friday night continued to rage yesterday.
Except for a firefighter who suffered injuries after accidentally touching a hot metal, no one was reported hurt or killed in the blaze.
The city government issued a haze alert in the vicinity of Cebu Business Park to warn motorists and residents of the harmful effects of the smoke.
In a statement, storeowner Metro Retail Group said the fire started at around 9:30 p.m. at the toys stock room on the third floor.
The management ordered all customers and workers to leave the mall. It coordinated with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and other emergency responders in controlling the situation.
Senior Superintendent Samuel Tadeo, BFP deputy director for Central Visayas, said all firefighters from the neighboring towns and cities were called in to help control the fire.
Tadeo said it might take two to three days to completely put out the fire.
Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire and the amount of damage. – The Freeman