Home 
Iloilo City — A two-hour fire destroyed at least 400 houses and left more than 2,000 persons homeless in the capital town of Kalibo in Aklan Saturday afternoon.
The fire, which struck the poor neighborhood along C. Laserna Street around 1:30 p.m. was put under control by firefighters around 4 p.m.
There was no report of casualties and the cause of the fire is still being investigated, according to a report of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Aklan.
Firetrucks from the neighboring towns of Kalibo and the provinces of Capiz and Antique had to assist in putting out the fire.
The fire, considered the biggest in the province since 1995, mostly affected squatters who had not recovered from the massive devastation of flooding and mudflow triggered by typhoon Frank in 2008.
Kalibo Mayor Raymar Rebaldo said in a telephone interview on Saturday that they have designated the ABL Sports Complex as the evacuation center for the displaced families. The municipal council also held an emergency session to discuss measures to assist the victims.
George Calaor, chair of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Aklan and a resident of the affected area, said the victims needed food, clothing and medicines, especially for children.
He said in a telephone interview Sunday that many of the victims opted to stay in their neighborhood instead of transferring to evacuation centers for fear of being barred from returning to the area.
Residents who have been staying in the area for decades have opposed moves by landowners to have them evicted from their houses, said Calaor.
