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[av_heading heading=’Early morning fire strikes 6 Jaro houses ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – Fire struck six houses early morning Friday, Dec. 9 in Sitio Matawhay, Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro district.
Houses owned by Maria Nieva Gentil, Eduardo Sales and Ronita Bacaling were razed, while those of Eduardo Zulueta, Ida Pama and Conchita Sumalatal were damaged.
The blaze started around 12:30 a.m. from Gentil’s house, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
While fire investigators have yet to determine the cause, some of the affected residents told Panay News they sensed someone was burning a heap of waste near Gentil’s house before the fire.
“Mga alas dose pasado, may napanimahu-an ko, daw may nagadabok. Ginhambalan ko bana ko,” Bacaling told this reporter. They did not mind.
But a few minutes later, they heard someone shouting, “May sunog, may sunog!”
“Nakita ko nga ang atop namon nalab-ot na sang kalayo,” said Bacaling, whose house was about 50 meters away from Gentil’s.
“Naggwa ko sa balay, ginpukaw ko bilog nga barangay,” she said. “Anay mabalik na ko nga salbaron gamit ko, wala na ko may nasalbar kay urot na sang kalayo balay ko.”
A certain “Nika” saw the fire first, said Bacaling. “Naglabay diri ang bata kag sia ang nakakita.” “Nika” refused to be interviewed.
The wife of Sales, whose house was right next to Gentil’s, believes a burning heap of waste started the blaze.
“Wala man may naglupok. Ginpukaw lang ako sang bata ko nga may sunog na,” said Ninfa. “Ambot sin-o gid na da nagtutod sa kilid sang balay namon a.”
Just like Bacaling, Ninfa was unable to salvage anything. “Tigulang na ako, mabalik pa ako da sa balay? Biskan panty wala gid ako may nasalbar,” said the 62-year-old.
“Tani may mabulig man sa amon biskan kawayan lang nga ipatindog balay. Diin kami ni bi maistar?” said Ninfa.
Investigation on the incident continues. The BFP estimated the cost of damage at around P300,000./PN
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