More than 2,000 persons were rendered homeless after a three-hour fire gutted down some 300 homes in Barangay Recodo in Zamboanga City at dawn today, October 13.
Three residents were injured during the conflagration.
The casualties were identified as Ansar Alawi, 50; Basher Paraja, 51; and Mukarram Asari, 35. All are residents of Barangay Mampang.
Initial investigation showed that the conflagration was caused by an unattended candle in one of the houses.
The fire started at around 2:50am and spread through the structures made of light and semi -concrete materials located at Puroks 2, 3A and 3B.
As of presstime, reports from the local government showed that 523 families composed of 2,821 persons lost their homes during the conflagration.
The victims were accommodated at the Recodo National High School and the Barangay Recodo covered courts.
Fire investigators are still investigating the incident.