Fire guts structures in Iloilo City, damage estimated at P8M

A late-night fire hit two buildings in Iloilo City on Friday, with an estimated cost of damage of around P8 million, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said Saturday.

Affected by the fire were structures in Chinatown on Iznart Street, Barangay Magsaysay, covering an area of more than 1,000 square meters, Sevein Hope Gegantoca reported on Super Radyo dzBB.

The BFP said the nine-hour blaze began after 11 p.m. Friday and was put out at 8:25 a.m. Saturday.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas has directed the Office of the Building Official to work with the BFP to determine the cause of the fire and immediately conduct inspections on the electrical connections of all heritage buildings in the downtown area.

''These are the jewels of Iloilo City, which are part of our heritage,'' he said. — Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News