TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte — A fire razed parts of Barangay 45 Sta. Cruz Street near Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) – Main Campus, damaging around 10 houses and forcing students and residents to evacuate to the university premises on Tuesday evening, September 30.
The blaze, which reportedly began at 6:30 p.m. inside a residential boarding house, quickly spread to nearby structures and affected an area of about 700 square meters, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported.
City Fire Marshal Chief Inspector Darren Baclea-an said the fire left an initial damage estimate of PHP 1.05 million as families and boarders lost their homes and personal belongings.
Responding firefighters placed the fire under control at 7:27 p.m. before declaring it “fire out” three minutes later, preventing further spread to nearby schools and residential blocks.
EVSU-Main Campus immediately opened its ABS-CBN Building as an evacuation site, providing shelter to both its students and affected residents left homeless by the blaze.
Among the evacuees was Reyka Dennis Trajano, a third-year student from the Batsilyer ng Sining sa Filipino (BSF), who expressed her fear and distress after losing most of her belongings, including her school uniforms, ID, shoes, books, and other essentials.
“Kinulba tas nabaraka ak kay nak mga gamit damo an nakadto. May nadara ak na bado duha la tas cellphone ngan wallet. Nak waray kadara an ak uniform, I.D., school shoes, mga libro, tas iba pa na gamit,” Trajano shared.
She also conveyed her appreciation to EVSU for extending assistance to the fire victims, emphasizing how much the support meant to her.
“Nalipay ak kay naghatag hin bulig an EVSU para ha mga nasunugan ngan dako hiya na nabulig labi na haak,” she added.
The Student Affairs and Services Office, led by Dr. Sonia Enrile, along with faculty member Dr. Ronald Madera and ROTC Head Mr. Jerry Ochea, distributed food, clothing, and bedding to ensure the fire victims’ basic needs were met.
Some displaced residents were also accommodated at Leyte Normal University (LNU), where Professor Charlie Ripalda, a former focal person for Disaster Risk Reduction – Climate Change Adaptation, guided them to safety and assisted in their temporary relocation.
Students from nearby dormitories and boarding houses voluntarily pooled donations, extending solidarity and compassion to their fellow EVSUnistas on one of the most difficult nights of the semester.
While no casualties were reported, authorities stressed that the incident serves as a reminder of the urgent need for stricter fire safety measures in residential areas where students and families live in close quarters.
Article by Cheyne Formentera & Marinelle Echano