Antique commercial area hit by fire

ILOILO CITY—Fire struck a commercial district in the capital town of San Jose de Buenavista in Antique province, destroying at least P20 million worth of property.

The fire started at the LDS Commercial on Tobias Fornier Street around 11:40 p.m. and spread to a warehouse behind the establishment, said SFO3 Alex Ortiaga, San Jose fire officer.

Although no one was reported hurt, he said the fire destroyed more than P17 million worth of merchandise inside the LDS Commercial’s one-story building.

LDS Commercial, owned by Mary Anne Licanda, sold grocery items and other merchandise and was considered one of the biggest commercial establishments in San Jose de Buenavista.

Behind the store was a warehouse that stored construction materials and pieces of lumber and also served as a stock room of businessman Horris Lim.

Also destroyed in the fire were Lim’s car, a small delivery van and two motorcycles.