A fire early Monday morning destroyed a residential area on the boundary of Imus and Kawit, Cavite, leaving around 120 families displaced and forced to spend Christmas in evacuation centers.
No casualties or injuries were reported, but the blaze left many residents without their belongings. Anna, one of the affected residents, shared her heartbreak in a GMA News report: “Everything we worked hard for is gone. I can’t even think about tomorrow.”
In Tinabunan Elementary School, one of the three evacuation centers, Margie Gersalia expressed relief that her family survived, saying, “What matters most is that we are all safe.” Gersalia managed to save her children’s important documents and a cherished pink teddy bear belonging to her daughter.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. FO3 James Luther Nones from the Imus Fire Station noted that the area has a history of fires, often caused by unattended candles. The last similar incident occurred in 2019.
The Imus local government has extended financial assistance and provided necessities to the victims. Officials have also pledged to replace the noche buena packages that were destroyed in the fire.
