Fire razes 30 houses in Naga City

NAGA CITY, Philippines -- An estimated 30 structures, including a boarding house, homes and small stores, were razed to the ground by a fire that started at around 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

Naga Fire Marshall Achilles Santiago said firemen responded to the call at 5 a.m. and immediately sent four fire trucks to stop the blaze that started in the Barrameda boarding house on Bayabas Street, Abella, Naga City.

The fire victims were mostly students in universities around the area. The boarding house was owned and operated by Purificacion Barrameda and was made up mostly of wood.

The fire was suspected to have been started by a candle left burning in the night by a boarder. The boarding house did not have electricity as its connection was cut a few days ago due to outstanding balances. (report from Shiena Barrameda, Inquirer Southern Luzon)