Elderly woman in Sambag fire dies

The 86-year-old woman who sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns from the fire that hit the two sitios in barangay Sambag II last Sunday is dead.

Basilia Miral Opada died at 9:52 p.m. at the Cebu City Medical Center last Sunday due to burns in her body and face.

According to the Chief Tanod of the barangay Sambag II, Jason Abella, Opada had already went out from her house, but went back to get some valuables. Minutes later, the responding firefighters heard someone shouting for help inside the burning house and immediately rescued the elderly womans. Opada was immediately rushed to Cebu City Medical Center.

Her remains were taken to the Sto. Niño chapel in sitio Maharlika, barangay Sambag II for viewing.

Meanwhile, the 75 families who were affected by the fire received P1,000 cash assistance from Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña yesterday. Cebu City mayor Michael  said  he gave cash to barangay Capt. Stephen Belarmino when he visited the barangay Sunday morning. He did not disclose the amount given.

Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) head Ester Concha said they are now finalizing the list of affected families so they could already start the processing of their relief and P10,000 cash assistance from the City Hall. But Concha said that they already started the distributing of packed meals on Sunday.

Access problem

Meanwhile, Rama said that he also wanted to check if there is a need to widen the access road in the barangay to give fire trucks and other emergency response equipments immediate access to the community’s interior.

“I want the matter addressed as soon as possible before another fire incident happens in the area,” he said.

Source of fire

Barangay officials said the fire started in the house of Nelia Gebolingo.

When the barangay fire volunteers responded to the alarm at 2:10 a.m., Abella said that the fire had already consumed three houses.

The fire totally destroyed 34 houses and partially burned two.

According to the DSWS record, among the 251 individuals were affected by the fire. 17 of them were sharer who lived in the house without paying; nine were renters, those renting a room but have their own kitchen; and 10 of them were bed spacer. /Christine Emily L. Pantaleon and Edison Delos Angeles, Correspondents