At least 10 people hurt, 90 houses razed in Cebu City fire

Two men transport a coffin on a banca to prevent it from getting burned in a fire that engulfed at least 90 houses in Barangay Ermita in Cebu City early Monday, May 7, 2018. At least 10 people were also reported hurt in the incident. (Junjie Mendoza,CDN)

CEBU CITY – At least 10 persons were injured while more than 90 houses were destroyed in a fire that hit a residential area in Sitio Kawit, Barangay Ermita in this city early Monday.

Fire Supt. Ceasar Patrocinio, of the Cebu provincial fire marshal, said they were validating reports that a nine-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy were missing.
Patrocinio said their initial investigation showed the fire started around 5:46 a.m. from the house of a certain Eda Alunod.

“Apparently, her gas stove exploded,” he told reporters.

Authorities said the blaze quickly spread but was placed under control two hours later.

The damages caused by the inferno were pegged at around P1.5 million.  /kga