Butuan blaze leaves 450 families homeless

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Philippines — Around 450 families were left homeless after a three-hour fire that swept through two urban villages here on Monday.

According to the City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO), the fire affected 450 families, composed of 2,292 individuals, in Barangay Ong Yiu and in Barangay San Ignacio.

City information officer May Diez said the displaced families were immediately provided relief assistance comprising of rice, canned goods and non-food items such as kitchen utensils, blankets, mosquito nets, and mats.

The families took temporary shelter in the covered court and mini-gym of Ong Yiu Elementary School and in the covered court of Barangay San Ignacio, added Diez.

In the rush to flee from the blaze, several residents were reportedly injured.

Several residents also complained of having the things they salvaged from the flames stolen during the evacuation.

Based on an initial probe of the Bureau of Fire Protection, some 150 houses and 10 business establishments were burned by the fire that lasted for more than four hours.

City Fire Marshall Peter T. Montaus said strong winds stoked the flames into a bigger blaze.

The narrow streets in the fire-stricken district also gave difficulties to firefighters in maneuvering their trucks.

/atm