By Jennifer P. Rendon
Eighty-four houses were razed by a fire that struck the thickly-populated area of Rizal Pala-Pala Zone 2, City Proper, Iloilo City.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Iloilo City reported that 63 houses were down to ashes while 21 were partially damaged during the conflagration that was reported at 8:48 a.m. on April 29.
The fire reached the fourth alarm and was declared over at 10:36 a.m.
Initial investigation claimed that the fire originated from the house of a certain Margarito Correa.
An unattended lighted candle allegedly started the conflagration that immediately spread to neighboring houses.
It can be noted that most of Iloilo City was experiencing power outages from Thursday until Saturday, thus the use of candles.
BFP-Iloilo City pegged the number of affected families at 107.
But the City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) pegged the affected number of families at 110.
There are around 60 families that are now staying at the three evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, three persons were reported injured during the incident.
Shayne Meryl Omilig, 20, complained of difficulty of breathing and claimed to be lightheaded.
On the other hand, Denfield Tormon, 30, complained of pain in the left knee secondary to a fall while Joseph Flores, 43, suffered a laceration on the right foot.
Damage to property was pegged at P2.25 million.
