ZAMBOANGA CITY — A massive fire swept through Bagong Dalan in Barangay Tugbungan on Sunday night, November 1, destroying an estimated 500 houses and displacing around 1,000 families in one of the most devastating fire incidents to hit the area.
The blaze reportedly broke out at around 8:00 p.m. and rapidly spread through the densely populated community, eventually reaching the third alarm.
Initial estimates on the extent of the damage and displacement were provided by Tugbungan Barangay Chairman Ramon Saavedra through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO). Authorities stressed, however, that the figures remain subject to validation as assessment and profiling operations continue.
The City Fire Department declared the fire under control at 9:57 p.m., although firefighting and related emergency operations continued as authorities worked to secure the affected area and prevent further danger.
Around 1,000 displaced families were temporarily accommodated at the Tugbungan Elementary School, where emergency assistance and other immediate support were being extended to residents who lost their homes and belongings.
Mayor Khymer Olaso personally went to the scene and led the mobilization of city government resources for the emergency response. The mayor’s office said the priority was to ensure the immediate safety, temporary shelter, and basic needs of families affected by the fire.
Also assisting in the response were District 2 Congressman Jerry Perez, Councilor Joel Esteban, City Administrator Percival Ramos, Kaiser Olaso, Barangay Chairman Saavedra and members of the barangay council, and Executive Assistant Eddie Saavedra.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), working with the barangay council, has begun the assessment and profiling of affected residents. The City Government of Zamboanga and the CSWDO have also started extending assistance to fire victims.
For many families, however, the full scale of their losses has yet to be determined. Residents lost not only their homes but also personal belongings and other property as the fire tore through the community.
Investigators from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) continue to determine what caused the blaze. Authorities have yet to release an official finding on the origin and cause of the fire.
The number of houses destroyed, families displaced, and the total cost of damage remain preliminary and may change once authorities complete their official assessment.
As emergency operations shift toward relief, profiling, and recovery, hundreds of displaced families now face the difficult task of rebuilding after the fire transformed a large part of Bagong Dalan into a disaster zone in just a matter of hours.