By BEN SERRANO
Correspondent
BUTUAN City–Authorities yesterday said all possibilities are being looked into in the fire that killed two children and burned some 30 houses and commercial establishments at the New Society Village here on Tuesday.
“We are investigating all angles, including the possibility of arson,” said Butuan fire marshall Rodrigo Canton.
The fire, that broke out at around 12:50 pm and spread until 2:05 pm, killed a five-year old boy and his one-year old brother. The children were reportedly trapped inside a house being leased out to their family.
Authorities said the house was also where the fire allegedly started.
The children’s father, Romeo Felix, suffered burns while he tried to save the boys.
SFO4 Canton initially placed the damages at P20 million, noting that the fire destroyed a number of business establishments.
He said most of the houses were made of highly combustible materials.
The community, located in downtown Butuan, is a crowded area where many of the city’s workers were leasing houses and rooms.
Canton said that while the initial findings indicated that the fire was a result of an unattended a gas stove, authorities have yet to conclude their investigation. He said all angles were being looked into.
Canton noted that many families living in the area were threatened with a demolition, and “because of that, our investigation now will be wideanging.”
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