Fire leaves 10,000 people homeless in Cebu

At least 10,000 residents in a squatters’ area were rendered homeless after a fire believed caused by an electrical short circuit razed their homes in Mandaue City in Cebu province Monday. Radio dzBB's Cebu affiliate reported the fire reached Task Force Alpha and razed more than 100 houses before firefighters placed it under control before 4 p.m. No one was initially reported killed or injured, but some residents fainted during the fire, the report said. Local authorities set up tents for the affected families, even as city officials are considering declaring a state of calamity over the area. Arson investigators have started looking into the cause of the fire. — LBG, GMANews.TV