2,000 families lose homes in Cebu City fire

Some 2,000 families lost their homes after a fire believed caused by an electrical short circuit destroyed some 260 houses in Cebu City Monday noon. Radio dzBB's Cebu affiliate reported Tuesday that arson investigators also estimated some P8.5 million in property was destroyed in the fire. The fire started shortly after noon at the residential area in T. Padilla village in Cebu City, and reached Task Force Bravo. Initial investigation showed the fire started at about 12:10 p.m. Monday, at a three-story house inside the residential area. Firefighters had a hard time getting to the site as the houses were bunched together, and the roads were narrow. It took them nearly two hours to contain the fire. The affected families were brought to the village gymnasium, where city social welfare officials brought relief goods and attended to them. — RSJ, GMANews.TV