Five facilities inside the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) in Barangay Mintal Proper, Davao City were gutted by fire on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

Authorities said the fire broke out around 11:32 a.m. and was declared under control at around 1:20 p.m.

Mintal Fire Station Investigator, Senior Fire Officer Manuel Ronquillo, said the fire may have started at the Audio-Visual Room (AVR) of the Pamulaan Center for Indigenous People’s Education and spread to other rooms.

The school dormitory was also razed by fire. Nearly 30 lumad students were affected and they will be placed under stress debriefing.

Their temporary shelter is being put in place, as of this writing.

Investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire and the cost of damage. 

Meanwhile, the fire in Guling National High School in Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur razed four classrooms and the office of the principal. 

The fire broke out past 6 a.m. and was put out at around 8 a.m.

No one was reported hurt in the incident while the damage to property was pegged at P500,000.

(With reports from King Pandia and Francis Timbal, GMA Super Radyo Davao)