Fire razes 25 houses in Catbalogan on All Souls’ Day

TACLOBAN CITY – The observance of the All Souls’ Day in Catbalogan City in Samar was marred with a fire that razed down 25 houses in one of the city’ densely populated villages.

The fire broke out in Purok 6 in Barangay Canlapwas at 1.21 p.m. said to have originated from the house of Roel Mahilum.

SFO3 Adriano de la Peña, the fire investigator of the Catbalogan Fire Station, said that they are still conducting their probe as to the cause of the blaze that was declared as fire out at 2.15 p.m.

But based on their initial investigation, the fire could have been ignited due to faulty electrical wirings at Mahilum house.

“No was around in the area as they were all in the cemetery,” de la Peña said in a phone interview.

The fire spread quickly as the houses, mostly made of light materials, were located just near each other.

Aside from the city fire station, members of the Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade helped in putting out the fire.

De la Peña could not say yet as to the damage caused by the blaze that affected more than 150 people.

Last May 8, the city was also hit by a fire that destroyed 300 houses.