GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — At least 30 secondhand clothing stalls and approximately 22 houses were damaged in a major fire that swept through Purok Islam 13-A, Barangay Dadiangas South, late Sunday night, October 25, leaving an estimated ₱1.75 million in property losses, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The fire broke out at around 11 p.m. in the Roundball area and rapidly spread through rows of ukay-ukay stalls and nearby residential structures. Strong winds reportedly contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, complicating firefighting efforts in the densely built-up area.
Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before the BFP-General Santos City declared the incident fire out at around 3 a.m. on Monday, October 26. City Fire Marshal FSUPT Marleap P. Nabor led the firefighting operations.
The fire destroyed or damaged dozens of small commercial stalls selling secondhand clothing, along with nearby homes and vehicles. The extent of the damage to individual properties and the number of families displaced were not immediately specified.
No deaths or injuries were recorded, according to the available incident report. Some affected families and occupants temporarily took shelter at an evacuation center following the fire.
The estimated ₱1.75-million loss covers the reported property damage, although authorities have yet to release a detailed accounting of the losses sustained by individual stall owners and residents.
For the affected vendors, the destruction of their stalls and merchandise could mean substantial disruptions to their livelihoods, while families whose homes were damaged may face temporary displacement and the cost of repairing or rebuilding their properties.
The BFP is continuing its investigation to determine the cause of the fire. Authorities have not yet established what triggered the blaze, and further details on the origin of the fire and the final assessment of the damage remain pending.
The incident underscores the risks posed by rapidly spreading fires in densely populated commercial and residential areas, particularly where closely spaced structures can allow flames to move quickly from one property to another.
Further information on the cause of the fire and the assistance available to affected families and vendors is expected as the investigation and damage assessment continue.