CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—A 12-hour fire struck this seaport capital Sunday morning, leaving about 1,000 people homeless.
The fire gobbled up more than 200 houses of light and concrete houses in Pinikitan, Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City about 2 a.m. Fire out was declared past 1 p.m.
Fire officials are still determining the cause of the fire even as witnesses said that the fire started in a house owned by a certain “Judy.” The fire occurred just as the rain drizzled after months of dry spell spawned by the El Niño phenomenon.
Fire Supt. Dominador Tambalo, of the regional Bureau of Fire Protection, said that a major fire alarm was sounded early morning Sunday, but fire trucks could not go near because of narrow and muddy streets.
He said that the firefighters had to struggle to keep the fire from spreading as private fire volunteer brigade served as backup.
Tambalo said that no injuries have been reported yet, but damage to property has been estimated to reach more than P5 million.
Village officials said that the homeless are now housed in the village covered court which would serve as the temporary evacuation center.
Village Chief Pedro Arda said that the village officials have started to organize relief operations and urged city residents to extend any form of assistance to the fire victims.