Around 200 pigs were roasted in a fire early morning yesterday in Talisay City, 12 kilometers south of Cebu City.
The fire gutted a warehouse owned by businessman Maximo Lisondra Jr. in barangay Biasong .
The warehouse had been partly converted into a piggery, said SF01 Cesar dela Serna, chief investigator of the Talisay City Fire Department.
The fire caused an instant sale of meat as charred meat was sold at a low price.
Dr. Expedito Medalla, coordinator of the Regional Health Emergency Management Service of the Department of Health in Central Visayas, warned the public against eating the meat of the roasted pigs.
He said those meat could no longer be safe for human consumption.
When the four caretakers, who were sleeping in a house and in an unfinished building within the compound, noticed the fire, it had already engulfed the entire warehouse just, Dela Serna said
He said the caretakers managed to save at least 10 pigs from the fire, which broke out at 5:55 a.m.
According to the estimate of the caretakers, 200 pigs, including sows and piglets, were killed, Dela Serna said.
Dela Serna said the fire started at the stockroom and spread to the whole building. The house where the caretakers stayed was also damaged.
Dela Serna said they were still investigating the cause of the fire but indicated it could have been caused by electrical misuse.
Damage was initially estimated at P700,000, not counting the value of the pigs, he said.
Dela Serna said the owner was in a state of shock and had yet to disclose the value of the animals.
Dela Serna said Lisondra was very sad because he had invested a large amount of money in the piggery when he shifted from manufacturing rattan furniture./WITH CORRESPONDENT GABRIEL C. BONJOC AND INQUIRER