Fire in Zamboanga City’s Barangay Camino Nuevo gutted more than a hundred houses and displaced 139 families on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. (Photo courtesy of RMN Zamboanga)
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines – A total of 139 families ended up homeless and at least two people were injured in a big fire that razed a mixed residential-commercial in Purok Tambucho, Barangay Camino Nuevo here on Sunday, Aug. 20.
The fire caused property damaged estimate at more than P1 million, with the fire alarm reaching up to the third level at the height of the firefighting operations, according to Supt. Christopher Morales, the district fire marshal.
The injured were identified as John Lloyd Delos Reyes, 21, and Lyn Paborado, 29, who both suffered lacerations in their legs and ankles.
A newly-opened WIN hotel suffered only minor damage because of its firewall. But the fire damaged several apartments and houses around it, forcing residents to take shelter at the barangay hall of Camino Nuevo, according to Norberto Monopollo, the village chair.
Monopollo said many houses that went ablaze – some of with student boarders — were made of light materials.
Residents flee from a fire that struck a mixed residential-commercial area in Zamboanga City on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. (Photo courtesy of RMN Zamboanga)
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire started in the house of a certain Joel Sali, but investigators still had not determined its cause.
Investigators suspect the fire started due to an electrical malfunction as there was a power outage when the it broke out, according to Morales said.
At least 16 firetrucks from 13 fire stations in the city were able to immediately respond. They also received support from the different agencies that pitched in 10 water tankers, six ambulances, and a rescue van.
Morales said firefighters managed to control the blaze around 10:35 p.m. on Sunday.