Calamity state declared after fire in Pagadian

RESIDENTS view the raging fire, which left 1,617 families homeless in Barangay San Pedro, Pagadian City. WINDELL CASTILLO / CONTRIBUTOR

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The Pagadian City government has declared a state of calamity in two villages that was razed by a fire on Monday afternoon.

Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Antonio Cerilles told the Inquirer by phone that members of the city council on Wednesday passed a resolution declaring Barangays Santiago and San Pedro under a state of calamity.

More than 1,500 families or over 7,000 people were left homeless when fire broke out in the village of San Pedro on Monday noon, said Eric Castillo of the Regional Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Management Committee said.

The fire spread to the adjacent village of Santiago.

Two persons were killed while eight others were injured.

Cerilles and Castillo said the extent of damage could reach P20 million. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao