Fire hits DOH facility in ARMM

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — An hour-long fire damaged the medical supply building here of the Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) Tuesday morning, local officials said.

No one was hurt in the incident.

Physician Ariadne Silongan, DOH-ARMM consultant, said the blaze, believed to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit, started at about 10:30 a.m. while employees were busy attending to their functions.

The DOH-ARMM regional office is located inside the ARMM compound here.

“The fire was quick to spread but firemen arrived just in time and prevented the spread to other buildings,” Silongan told reporters.

Investigators and health officials have yet to determine the cost of damage.