BUTUAN CITY—The number of victims of the July 16 fire that hit Butuan City has risen to 298 families from 187 and barangay officials said that five were injured while fleeing their burning houses.
Butuan City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council officer Grace Burdeos Espere said that 1,350 individuals were displaced by the fire that razed 124 houses in two barangays, Tandang Sora and Limaha.
five-hour fire razed their houses. Alvin Guanzon
Espere said 34 families were among the victims in Limaha and 264 families more in Tandang Sora.
Barangay Kagawad Giginio Castaňares said he feared the rising number of victims could trigger a “humanitarian crisis” since majority of them did not want to leave the lots where their houses once stood.
“Majority of the fire victims here in Tandang Sora even wanted to build temporary shelter right at the lots t where their houses were built . Espere and Castaňares were one in saying the cause of last night’ fire was arson.
“This is because some of the eyewitness smelled gasoline in one of the houses moments before the fire while some allegedly saw two still unidentified strangers in the house where the fire started,” Castanares said.
Espere for her part said that although she and members of the CDRRMC also suspected arson, she said “we will wait for the official Bureau of Fire Protection findings.”
Butuan City Supervising Fire Officer Wilfredo Miras said the fire started around 9:54 p.m. On July 16, 2015 . Firemen declare fire out the next day at 3:00 a.m.
Butuan City Police were looking into the allegead looting incident.
Some of the victims complained they have not yet received food and other relief goods.
Sometime in 2013, fire razed 220 houses in also two barangays of Butuan City, Barangays Port Poyohon and Obrero rendering 1,300 people homeless
Butuan City Fire Marshall Augusto Caesar Penaso said the year 2013 fire raged for almost five hours, but the firemen could only save a few houses because of weak water pressure from hydrants.
“If only there was water coming out of the fire hydrants, we could have saved half of the houses,” Port Poyohon Barangay Caption Julieto Llagas said.
Barangay Obrero Captain Cesar Berdera shared the same observation and said he was disgusted at their helplessness while their properties were being gobbled up by the fire.
Adonis Tulang and his wife Victoria, who lost their house in the fire, said they used to pass by the fire hydrant everyday and wondered if it would be useful during an emergency.
“Now, we know the hydrants are just decorations,” Tulang said.