ILOILO CITY – Two people died in a fire in a residential area in Roxas City, the capital of Capiz province, on Tuesday afternoon, February 27.
Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas confirmed the death of two senior citizens in an official statement released via his official Facebook page.
SMOKE rises from houses destroyed by a fire in Roxas City, Capiz on Tuesday, February 27. Two senior citizens died in the blaze. (Mayor Ronnie Dadivas FB)
The fatalities were identified as 67-year-old Nestor Clarito and 66-year-old Anita Villaruz.
Dadivas said they were trapped inside their homes and were not able to escape during the fire.
Initial information released by the Mayor’s Office said more than 60 houses were razed and hundreds of residents in Barangay 7 were displaced by the blaze that quickly spread as many homes were made of light materials.
Dadivas checked the area and observed that majority of the houses were totally burned.
He created a command post in Barangay 7 to enable city government agencies the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), City Health Office (CHO), City Engineers Office (CEO), and Electrical Division – to assist fire victims.
Displaced residents were taken to the Rufina Andrada Memorial School.
The city government has distributed food and other necessary items to the victims.