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| A devastating fire in Tacloban razes 27 homes, with no casualties but heartbreaking losses for residents, including a 79-year-old councilor who lost her birthday savings. Photo: John Ramil/Facebook |
TACLOBAN CITY – A fire incident that ignited late Monday afternoon on September 11 in Barangay 43 Quarry District, near the intersection of Salazar and Imelda Avenue streets, has left 27 residential houses reduced to ashes. Thankfully, there were no reported casualties or injuries.
Senior Fire Officer 2 Anthony Alvin Duran, the Chief Investigator of the Tacloban City Fire Department, confirmed that the fire reached the 2nd alarm. Initial reports indicate that the affected homes were constructed from light materials.
In a remarkable display of solidarity, firefighters from neighboring towns in Leyte and Samar swiftly responded to Tacloban's call for assistance. Teams from Palo, Tanauan, Pastrana, Tolosa, Sta. Fe, Babatngon, and Basey, Samar, joined forces to combat the blaze.
The City General Services Office's (CGSO) water tanker was also pressed into service, providing essential additional water supply to the firefighting efforts, according to SFO2 Duran.
City Fire Marshall Anthony De Paz declared the fire extinguished at 5:54 p.m. However, investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the conflagration.
Amidst the devastating aftermath, one resident, 79-year-old Catalina C. Cajano, a barangay councilor of Brgy. 43, shared a heartbreaking story. Cajano lost her home and, more importantly, her savings. Inside a tin can container beneath the rubble, she had kept P50,000, intended for her 80th birthday celebration in January 2024. However, upon discovery, she found nothing but ashes, a painful reminder of her loss.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is still assessing the extent of the damage, with initial estimates suggesting losses exceeding P750 thousand. As investigations continue, the affected residents of Barangay 43 Quarry District begin the challenging process of rebuilding their lives and homes. —iTacloban (Source: CIO)