Several rooms at a school in Patikul, Sulu were razed by fire evening on Sunday, April 20, 2025.

Among the rooms razed were the conference room, the principal’s office, a storage room, and two faculty rooms.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BFP-BARMM), a stay-in janitor reportedly heard an explosion in the storage room where the sound system and an LPG tank were kept before the fire broke out.

The LPT tank may have exploded after a spark from the electrical wiring.

However, the janitor said he did not smell gas before the incident, which may have indicated a leak.

“He claimed that the storage room where sound system and LPG tank passed the area of origin. He also confirmed that there is an electrical connection into the burned building that it was energized and that the main cut out was turned on when the fire broke out,” BFP-BARMM Director, FSSupt. Kadil Acalul, said.

The cost of damage reached more than P4.7 million.

Authorities have advised the school officials to check old electrical connections to prevent similar incidents.

“Kung makita natin na medyo luma na, palitan na natin. Sometimes, kung sobrang luma na nagko-cause siya ng fire,” Acalul added.