TAGUM CITY -- A massive fire hit a residential area in the gold-rich village of Mt. Diwalwal, in Monkayo, Compostela Valley on Tuesday evening, police and officials said.
The fire gutted houses in Purok 9 at 8 p.m., village chief Francisco Tito said.
Franklin Mapando, a village worker said an initial 52 houses were destroyed when the blaze that started at 8:05 p.m. ate up a portion of Purok 9.
Mapando said there were no reports of casualties. Residents, police and other volunteers helped in putting out the fire an hour later, he said.
