DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 4 February) — The Bongao Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in Tawi-Tawi reported that damaged footbridges hindered rescue efforts during a fire that destroyed 1,000 houses in Barangay Lamion late Tuesday. The blaze started at 10:09 p.m. and was extinguished nearly four hours later by the Bongao Central Fire Station. Over 1,000 families were affected, with 1,000 meters of footbridges damaged, complicating rescue and firefighting operations. Strong winds worsened the fire’s spread. No fatalities were reported.
A total of 1,138 displaced families are now sheltered in three evacuation centers: Amilbahar Gym of Mindanao State University (616 families), MSU’s Integrated Laboratory School covered court (400), and the provincial quarantine area (122). Government and humanitarian agencies, including the Philippine Red Cross, are providing assistance. Water trucks from the provincial DRRMO and private donors have been deployed, while waste management teams ensure sanitation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. (Allizah Keziah Manulat / MindaNews)
