A fire ripped through Sitio Mananga 2 near Mananga Bridge in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City, Cebu on Wednesday afternoon, June 25, leaving around 200 families homeless.
According to the Talisay City Fire Station, the blaze destroyed more than 100 homes. Firefighters received the alarm at 2:11 p.m., and the fire reached Task Force Alpha status by 2:50 p.m. before it was declared under control at around 3:45 p.m.
Emergency response teams faced difficulty reaching the area due to narrow roads and the location being deep within an interior portion of the barangay.
To assist responders, the City of Talisay Traffic Operations and Development Authority (CT-TODA) temporarily closed the southbound lane of Mananga Bridge to allow space for fire trucks, converting the northbound lane into a two-way traffic route.
Fire Officer 2 Mar Dee II Auxtero said the cause and extent of the damage are still under investigation. Witnesses believe the fire may have been triggered by flying sparks from ongoing welding work, which reportedly hit flammable materials nearby.
Displaced families are currently taking temporary shelter at the Barangay Tabunok Gym as the local government arranges aid and additional support.
