Iligan fire kills 1, hurts 2, leaves 690 homeless

Some of the 73 houses gutted by an afternoon fire in Purok Matinabangon, Barangay Ubaldo Laya, Iligan City on May 29 that left 142 families homeless. Photo courtesy of DXIC RMN Iligan

ILIGAN CITY — A stroke survivor died while two others were wounded in a fire that gutted 73 houses at Purok Matinabangon, Barangay Ubaldo Laya here at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Grace Saquilabon, head of City Social Welfare and Development here, said Lydia Palarca, 58, who was ailing after she had a stroke, was left behind in her burning house when her children panicked at the height of the fire.

Two others were hurt as they ran for safety, she added.

Saquilabon said the fire left 690 persons from 142 families homeless.

Aside from the 73 houses that were burned down, five other houses were partly damaged.

The homeless people are temporarily staying at the barangay covered court.

“That number (of evacuees) was based on what we have already profiled as of 3 a.m. today (Thursday, May 30). Our staff still continue profiling the victims,” Saquilabon said in an interview.

She said the local government had extended food packs and sleeping kits while some private groups gave relief assistance to the fire survivors.

The Bureau of Fire Protection said it was still investigating the cause of the fire. (Editor: Leti Boniol)