3 hurt, 7 houses destroyed in Cebu fire

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Three persons were injured while seven houses were destroyed and two houses were damaged in a fire that hit an area in Barangay (village) Banilad, Cebu City Monday noon.

The injured persons were identified as 87-year-old Gregoria Opone, Ronnie Colita and his mother Mary. Opone had a cut on her left leg while Ronnie and Mary suffered burns on their arms and feet.

The paramedics of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation gave first aid to the three but Ronnie was brought to the hospital because his entire right arm and left shoulder sustained burns.

The fire started at the second floor of the house owned by Marites Delloso in Opone compound, near Maria Luisa Subdivision in Barangay Banilad.

The fire broke out 12:07 noon and was declared under control by the fire department 12 minutes later.

Ronnie said he sustained the burns when he entered a neighbor’s house to rescue Opone, who could not walk, and his mother.