A senior citizen and a person with disability perished in a fire that hit an informal settler’s area at Zone 2, Barangay Looc, Dumaguete City in the wee hours of the morning of Sunday.
The fire of still undetermined origin razed more than 60 houses with 127 families affected, an initial report from authorities said.
City Health Officer Dr. Ma. Sarah Talla identified those who died as Rex Generoso Chavez, a PWD,38 years old, single, and Paquito Bendoque Miraflor, 73, married, both residents of Zone 2, Looc.
According to Dr. Talla, who conducted a post mortem on the casualties around 8 a.m. Sunday, both men were charred but were identified by their relatives.
Initial investigation showed that around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, fire broke out purportedly at the residence of a certain Junior Sales in the densely populated area.
Reports from residents said Sales and her live-in partner had a quarrel late Saturday afternoon and later on in the evening, the neighbors noticed Sales pack up his things.
A neighbor came out of the house to answer the call of nature and noticed smoke coming out of the house rented by Sales, made of light materials.
The blaze spread so fast despite efforts by the Dumaguete fire station and other fire volunteers from different local government units and the private sector to contain it.
The houses, many of them made of light materials, were built very close to each other.
Fire chief Arnulfo Sayson said the fire was tapped at 1:45 a.m. and was placed under control past 3:00 a.m. with the help of fire trucks from Silliman University, the Filipino-Chinese volunteer fire brigade, and fire trucks from Valencia, Sibulan, Amlan and Bacong.
Sayson does not rule out the possibility of arson.
Sunday’s fire is the biggest so far in the Dumaguete with an estimated damaged to property of P1.5 million in recent years.
Village chief Angelita Ragay said it was unfortunate for her constituents to be left homeless with one day before the election.
She said barangay tanods of the barangay saw Sales bringing his things out of the house late in the evening, after which the fire was reported.
Personnel from the Department of Social Welfare & Development office immediately sent supplies, used clothing and food for the victims, who are gathered at the barangay chapel and multipurpose hall, according to regional director Shailyn Lucero, regional director of the DSWD-Negros Island Region.
City Social Welfare OIC Carola Alquero disclosed that families of houses that were totally destroyed by the fire will receive a cash assistance of P10,000 while partially damaged houses will get P5,000.
The barangay chapel is also being used as an evacuation center for the fire victims who the city is providing with food and other necessities.
Meanwhile, City Health Officer Dr. Talla disclosed four others sustained some minor wounds during the fire while others were also given basic medication for hypertension and other health concerns. (Judy Flores/Choy Gallarde)
