A MASSIVE fire razed 40 houses at Barangay Panubigan in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental Friday afternoon.
No one was injured.
Mayor Jimmy Clerigo said that 27 houses were destroyed while 13 others were damaged by the fire that broke out at around 2:30 pm.
It took more than an hour for the firefighters to put the blaze under control.
Clerigo said the affected families took temporary shelter at the Canlaon gym.
He added that each family will be given P2,000 cash assistance by the city government. Food packs were also distributed.
Clerigo mayor said the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is still investigating the cause of the incident.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Fred Trajeras, BFP-18 director, said that fire stations from neighboring localities like Moises Padilla and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental and Vallehermoso in Negros Oriental sent reinforcements. (MPE)