2 fires in Cebu City damage school, destroy 50 homes

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CEBU CITY, Philippines—Two fires struck in Cebu City in a span of  four hours Thursday, destroying several classrooms at a public school and about 50 houses in a residential area.

The first fire broke out at 10:43 p.m., destroying a new canteen that had yet to begin operations and at least eight classrooms in an old Gabaldon-style, mostly wooden building at the Cebu City Central School at the corner of  Osmeña Boulevard and P. Del Rosario Street, according to fire investigator F03 Lowel Opolentisima. Eight other classrooms were damaged.

The second fire struck at 2:36 a.m. Friday at Barangay Quiot Pardo and destroyed at least 50 houses, he added.

Opolentisima said the Gabaldon building at the Cebu City Central School was used by Grade 5 pupils and night high school students but no students were in the building at the time of the fire.

The fire started at the newly constructed canteen, which was scheduled for blessing with a Mass on Friday, Opolentisima said.

He said the cause of the fire has not yet been established as the canteen was not yet in operation and still had no electricity connection.

At 2:36 a.m. on Friday, around 50 houses were razed in Barangay Quiot Pardo, Cebu City.

Opolentisima said the fire started on the second floor of a two-story boarding house owned by one Aquilino Cabaluna.

He said the cause of fire was still under investigation.

No one was reported hurt in either fire.