A fire of still-unknown origin hit a village here Tuesday afternoon, gutting 30 houses made of semi-concrete and light materials. A resident was slightly injured while salvaging valuables from his burning house during the two-hour fire along Governor Gutierrez Avenue in Barangay Rosary Heights 7. Sr. Insp. Ike Lachica Jr., city fire marshal, said the fire started from one house around 1 p.m. and immediately spread. 'We are still determining what caused the fire,' Lachica said in a radio interview. Affected families are now temporarily housed at the barangay-covered court. Property damage was pegged at PHP800,000. Cotabato City Mayor Bruce Matabalao has ordered the city social welfare office to attend to the immediate needs of the victims

Source: Philippines News Agency