TACLOBAN CITY – A late afternoon fire in Barangay Canlapwas, Catbalogan City, Samar on Tuesday, October 1, claimed the life of a provincial government employee and left more than 200 residents homeless, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported.
The blaze, which started around 5:30 p.m. in Purok 3, was traced to faulty electrical wiring that ignited the roof of a house owned by Rizalda Magallanes. Built from light materials, the structure quickly burned down, with flames spreading to nearby residences, investigators said.
Firefighters from the Catbalogan City Fire Station, assisted by volunteers, police, and responding units from neighboring Paranas town, battled the fire for nearly four hours. Raised to second alarm, the fire was declared under control at 7:20 p.m. and fully extinguished by 9:23 p.m.
Authorities confirmed that Reynold Muñez, 30, an employee of the Samar provincial capitol, perished in the incident. He reportedly ran back inside their burning home, thinking his family was still trapped, unaware that they had already escaped. His body was retrieved after the fire was put out.
The BFP reported that 23 houses were completely gutted while three others sustained partial damage, displacing 50 families or about 208 individuals. Property losses were initially estimated at P2 million.
Affected families are temporarily housed at a local church and the barangay hall, while the city government, led by Mayor Dexter Uy, has extended relief assistance.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
