A devastating fire early Monday morning left around 120 families in Cavite homeless just days before Christmas. The blaze, which razed a residential area at the boundary of Imus and Kawit, forced residents to seek refuge in evacuation centers.
Losses Amid Survival
Despite the severity of the fire, no casualties or injuries were reported. However, residents like Anna, one of the victims, are grappling with the loss of everything they owned.
“I’m not thinking about tomorrow… we lost everything,” Anna shared, tearfully recounting how the fire wiped out all she and her husband had worked for.
Margie Gersalia, another evacuee now staying at Tinabunan Elementary School, managed to save important documents and her daughter’s pink teddy bear. “I’m just thankful we are all alive,” she said.
History of Fire in the Area
According to FO3 James Luther Nones of the Imus Fire Station, this is not the first fire to hit the area. “There is a history of fires in that location, often caused by unattended candles,” Nones noted. The last fire incident occurred in 2019.
Fire authorities are investigating the cause of the recent blaze.
Government Assistance and Support
The local government of Imus has stepped in to provide financial assistance and basic necessities to the displaced families. Officials also pledged to replace the noche buena packages that had been distributed but were destroyed in the fire.
As the affected families prepare to spend Christmas in evacuation centers, the spirit of survival and community support remains strong despite the tragic circumstances.