JOLO ISLAND, Philippines— More than 5,000 people were left homeless by a fire that swept through a neighborhood in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, officials said yesterday.
Preliminary reports showed nine people were being treated for minor injuries but the provincial peace and order council was still assessing the total damage.
“There could be more victims and we need help now, like food and blankets and tents for the refugees,” said Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan.
Local residents and officials estimated that more than 500 houses were destroyed in two blocks in downtown Jolo.
Jolo, the capital town of Sulu province, is about 950 kilometers south of Manila.
The governor ordered a relief operation to help feed the fire victims and has offered refugees the use of the province’s sports complex as temporary shelters.
He said a team of social workers and doctors were mobilized to take care of the women and children, and policemen were watching over the burned neighborhood to prevent other people from building structures or occupying lands they do not own.
The fire broke out late Monday in the village of Asturias and more than 500 houses were burned, said village chieftain Kerkarl Tan.
Fire victims faulted the local fire department for being unprepared for a major fire. They said responding fire trucks did not have water, prompting residents to fetch dirty water from canals and creeks in a vain attempt to save their houses
“Now, we don’t know where to stay for the night. Our house is gone and we have nothing left,” said Ibrahim Abubakre, a fisherman.
Authorities said they were still investigating the cause of the fire.
A woman said the fire started from a wooden house where an oil lamp fell to the floor.
“That’s where it all started,” she told reporters.
