By Jennifer P. Rendon
A devastating fire erupted on the morning of March 5 in the densely populated Barangay Airport in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, leaving many families homeless.
The displaced residents are currently taking refuge at Mandurriao Elementary School.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Iloilo City’s preliminary report revealed that 54 houses were completely destroyed, while 36 suffered partial damage in Zone 1 of Barangay Airport.
The blaze ignited around 7:48 a.m. on Tuesday and was brought under control by 8:30 a.m. The fire was completely extinguished at 9:01 a.m.
Fire Officer 1 John Michael Bibit stated that they are still investigating the fire’s origin and cause. There have been reports of residents incurring minor injuries during the incident.
Bibit mentioned that the fire spread rapidly, exacerbated by the close proximity of the homes, most of which were constructed with light materials.
The narrow pathways in the area posed additional challenges for the firefighters.
The estimated property damage has been calculated at P2.1 million.
This incident follows a similar misfortune that struck the same locality nearly two years prior. Barangay Captain Benjie Macailing recalled that about 20 houses were ravaged by fire on March 11, 2022.
