920 families displaced after fire hit 2 Puerto Princesa villages

A massive fire early morning of Feb. 7, 2024 razed more than 450 households in Puerto Princesa’s Barangay Pagkakaisa and Barangay Bagong Silang. (Photo from Office of Speaker Romualdez)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Philippines — More than 900 families were left homeless on Wednesday, Feb. 7, after a fire razed at least 450 houses in two villages in this city.

An initial investigation report released by Fire Officer 1 Zyra Mae Alba of the Puerto Princesa City Fire Department said at least 200 houses in Barangay Pagkakaisa and 250 houses in Barangay Bagong Silang were razed by the fire. The origin of the fire is still unknown as of this writing.

The report also stated that the fire started at 2:25 a.m. and lasted for more than five hours before it was declared fire out at 8:10 a.m. by responding firefighters.

The residential houses were beside a cruise ship port still under construction.

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Residents said strong winds from the sea caused the fire to spread quickly through the houses made mostly of light materials.

Around 420 families from Barangay Pagkakaisa and 500 families from Barangay Bagong Silang are temporarily staying at the Puerto Princesa City Pilot Elementary School. They are set to receive assistance from the city government.

Meanwhile, authorities are still investigating the incident.