A blaze destroyed 79 houses and damaged three more at the coastal area in Barangay Bagong Silang, Puerto Princesa City, Thursday morning, April 23.
Residents rushed off and went outside to save their lives with few personal things they can carry, while some jumped into the sea.
According to Barangay Kagawad Vicky Oblan of the said barangay, based on the list after the City Social Welfare and Development conducted their investigation and counting, 83 families were affected and the numbers is expected to rise after they are done.
“Base sa bilang ng CSWD, 79 houses ang totally damaged at ang partially damaged ay tatlo pero baka tumaas pa ‘yan dahil hindi pa naman kami tapos sap ag-iikot,” Oblan said in an interview of PDN.
Based on initial investigations, the fire started at the boarding house owned by a certain Prime Celis.
“Nagsimula ang apoy sa bahay ni Mr. Prime Celis na may-ari ng bahay kung saan marami ang nagbo-board sa kanila at sa information naming is nasa sampung boarders mayroon sa bahay nito,” she added.
Around 10:33 in the morning when fire fighters declared fire under control.
Chief Inspector Nilo Caabay, City Fire Marshall Chief, told Palawan Daily that they had difficulty in penetrating the area because of the narrow paths.
“Fire under control, meaning to say na hindi na makakalapit pa ang apoy sa ibang bahay and overhauling nalang tayo para mawala na ang mga baga at maliliit pang apoy. Nahirapan lang tayo kanina dahil maraming factors tulad ng malayo s’ya sa kalsada at makitid ang daanan kaya hindi makalapit ang fire trucks natin. Pangalawa, gawa sa light materials at dikit-dikit ang mga bahay, buti na nga lang at walang gaanong hangin,” Caabay told Palawan Daily.
No one was reported hurt during the fire but the investigations is still ongoing to determine the cause of fire and the total cost of damages.
“Ongoing pa ang investigation ng arson investigator natin to determine the total cost of damages, ano ang pinagmulan ng apoy and other details,” he added.
Meanwhile, the affected families will be brought to Pilot Memorial Elementary School as it was identified by the barangay officials to be their evacuation center.
“Ang evacuees ay sa Pilot natin ilalagay para maiwasan marahil itong ating siksikan dahil napakahirap talaga ng sitwasyon ngayon at may ECQ kasi tayo at kailangan parin natin matiyak ang social distancing kahit nasa evacuation area sila,” Oblan said.
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