Fire hits Sulu port, destroys 886 houses

ZAMBOANGA CITY -– Around 886 families were displaced in a two-hour fire that hit Sunday afternoon downtown Jolo, the capital of Sulu, a top military official said.Brigadier General Alan Arrojado, Joint Task Group Sulu commander, disclosed the fire broke out around 2:15 p.m. Sunday at the Serrantes public market in Barangay Walled City.Arrojado said the fire razed 886 houses as it rapidly spread to the nearby residential area of Barangay Chinese Pier.However, he said that the public market was not affected by the fire.Arrojado said the fire was contained two hours later by firefighters of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) backed by policemen, soldiers, civilians and Air Transportation Office personnel.He said the origin of the fire is still being determined by BFP investigator.Meanwhile, Arrojado said Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II has distributed on Monday sacks of rice to each of the 886 displaced families.He said relief goods were also distributed to the affected families by the Sulu Provincial Women's Council (SPWC). (PNA)LAP/BNB/TPGJR