Fire razes 50 Pagadian homes amid heavy rain

Tricycles ply a flooded street in Barangay Sta. Lucia in Pagadian City while smoke rises from houses burning in the adjacent Barangay Balangasan on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 1, 2018. INQUIRER PHOTO / ANNABEL GUITARTE

PAGADIAN CITY – While heavy rain poured on Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur, fire was razing houses in Purok Romblon, Balangasan District, Saturday afternoon. The blaze left more than a hundred families homeless.

Zenaida Lim, a fire victim, told the Inquirer that she immediately carried her two grandchildren, 1-year-old Breyshell and 3-year-old Bryan, after hearing a neighbor shout ‘Sunog!’

But seeing that they were caught in the middle of burning houses, she decided to jump into the river beside their house, notwithstanding the strong current caused by the heavy rain.

Wading in waist-deep water, Lim carried the two children safely until barangay-trained rescuers pulled them out of the river.

House owner Leslie Paraguya said she was fetching water from a deep well when she saw the flames, so she immediately grabbed her 5-year old son, Kian, and ran barefoot to safety.

Paraguya said she wanted to go back to their house to get important documents and belongings for her son but decided otherwise.

Lim and Paraguya are among victims who sought shelter at the Balangasan covered court.

Relief team in-charge Robino Avila said 108 families were accommodated at the evacuation area while others were taken in by relatives in other barangays.

Andrew Jade Mantos of the City Health office talked to the fire victims and found some complaining of fever and flu. One victim was recently discharged from the hospital after an operation.

City Fire Marshall Herman Ting said an initial investigation disclosed that the fire came from the house of Flordelyn Emperial, particularly from a room rented by a certain Ella Kabuntalan.

Authorities have yet to talk to Kabuntalan about the fire that quickly spread to about 50 houses made of light materials. /cbb