Pre-Dawn Fire Razes 160 Houses in Cebu City

Some PHP1.5 million worth of properties went up in smoke in a pre-dawn fire that razed at least 160 houses before dawn on Monday in Barangays Tisa and Labangon, Cebu City.

No one was reported hurt in the fire.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Roger Dabalos of the Cebu City Fire Department said they received the fire alarm at 12:28 a.m. Monday and the fire was declared out at 2:33 a.m.

Dabalos said the damage caused by the fire was pegged at PHP1.5 million.

The fire started in Barangay Tisa and the flames quickly spread to the adjacent barangay (village) of Labangon.

Barangay Tisa Captain Philip Zafra said they received reports that a couple had a confrontation, prompting the husband to throw at his wife a lighted lamp inside their residence.

Investigators are looking for the suspect, a certain Andrew Balunan, and his wife.

The survivors are taking temporary shelter in La Paloma Village Gymnasium and the Barangay Labangon Gymnasium. (PNA)LAP/EB/EBP