Fire hits Davao del Norte mall, destroys P20-M worth of property

TAGUM CITY—An estimated P20 million worth of property went up in smoke when a fire that raged for more than seven hours hit a shopping mall here on Thursday, authorities said.

The fourth floor of Unitop Mall along Quirante Avenue was destroyed while the two floors below it also incurred considerable damage following the blaze that started past 2 p.m., said Senior Fire Officer 1 Demar Binanua, arson investigator of Tagum City fire station.

Binanua said the blaze, which quickly spread, started at the topmost level of the four-story building along one of Tagum’s busiest streets. It also threatened nearby buildings, including boarding houses.

Shoppers and mall employees rushed out of the building as the first plume of smoke billowed, he said.

Binanua said a small fire occurred in the same area a day before but workers were able to put it out using portable fire extinguishers.

“Wednesday’s fire was caused by falling welding sparks,” Binanua said, adding this could have also caused Thursday’s blaze.

Fire trucks from nearby towns and as far as Davao City responded and assisted in putting out the blaze, which was not dampened by heavy rains.

Binanua said the blaze was put under control past 9 p.m.

On March 2012, a fire believed caused by faulty electric connection also nearly gutted the entire shopping mall. Frinston L. Lim/RC