5 killed in fire that razed large forest area in Benguet

BAGUIO CITY — Fire destroyed a large forest area at the boundary of Itogon and Tuba in Benguet on Wednesday, killing at least five people, authorities said.

Initial reports said the blaze spread to the storage area of the Office of Forestry. Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan said five cadavers were recovered from the area.

Fire is still ongoing at the Eastern Saddle, Barangay Ampucao in Itogon, Palangdan told the Inquirer.

He said he received the report on the fire around 3:30 p.m. Sr. Supt. Sofia Mendoza, regional director of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Cordillera, said an augmentation team has been dispatched to the area to help put out the fire.

Authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims as well as the cause of the fire. /kga