CEBU CITY -- Several people were trapped inside a shopping center and a hotel in this city after a fire broke out at a boutique inside the mall Sunday afternoon.
The fire started around 3 p.m. at Bench store, which is located at the second floor of the Robinson's Mall. An explosion reportedly occurred, causing the fire. The ceiling of the boutique collapsed.
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The Cebu City Fire Department received the fire alarm past 3 p.m. It said the fire spread to the Midtown Hotel, which is located just beside the Robinson's Mall, near Fuente Osmena this city.
Among those trapped were people who were inside the mall when the fire broke out, as well as those who were inside the elevator at the Midtown Hotel. Most of those trapped were employees of the department store.
Rescue operation is ongoing as of this posting Sunday for those employees trapped inside an elevator. Customers at the mall, however, were all safe.
Several guests at the Midtown Hotel, meanwhile, were already rescued, but radio reports said others are still in their rented rooms.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who went to the fire scene to monitor the situation, earlier said he is helping equip the firefighters with needed equipment to put out the blaze.
The firefighters had difficulty penetrating the area due to narrow alleys and thick smoke, particularly at the mall's third floor, he added.
The fire is not yet under control, but the blaze is already confined at the mall. Firefighters have broken the windows to be able to get into the building.
Susette Abellanosa, owner of Simply Fab store in Robinson’s Mall, said she was on her way to Simala Church in southern Cebu when she was informed by her employees about the fire.
Her employees, who opted to stay inside the building because they wanted to save whatever items from their store, were later rescued, Abellanosa told Sun.Star.
She said she will go inside the mall once allowed to gather whatever is left.
Mayor Rama earlier told the store owners to wait for the firefighter's advice. They were also told to bring flash lights once they go inside.
Rama said the firefighters are trying hard to declare the fire under control.
But while the firefighters were busy putting out the fire at the mall, another fire broke out at a residential area in Salinas Driver, Barangay Lahug this city.
Some of the firefighters were shortly pulled out from Robinson’s to respond to the fire in Lahug. They, however, were told to go back a few minutes later, as residents at Salinas Driver were able to put the fire under control, radio reports said.
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Topic: Fire hits mall, hotel in Cebu (Read 2338 times)