BORACAY, Philippines (22 Jan 2005) -- A large fire razed Friday the flea market near the beachfront of the tourist island of Boracay, threatening resorts accommodating thousands of visitors diverted there by the Indian Ocean tsunami. Up to 5,000 square meters of property was on fire about an hour after the blaze started at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the makeshift market area some 300 meters away from the beachfront, police and residents said. The fire was put out at 10:45 p.m. or some four hours after it started. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Police placed the damage to properties at P100 million. Chief Insp. Jack Wangky of the Boracay police said at least 50 stores in the "talipapa (flea market)" as well as some residential areas were wiped out by the fire. The "talipapa" is a popular destination for tourists for their souvenirs, beachwear, and grocery needs. The area also houses several restaurants. It is located near Boat Station 3 in Barangay Manoc-Manoc, one of Boracay's three villages. Other affected establishments are the two-storey Casa Pilar resort, house owned by Rey Padua and store owned by radio reporter Jupiter Regallo. Firefighters were having difficulty containing the blaze because the island has only one fire truck. "The winds were so strong and the island only has one old fire truck. Then, the stalls were made of light materials," Wangky told Sun.Star Iloilo. He said restaurant and resort owners and their workers poured water on their establishments to keep the fire from spreading. Residents and tourists also tried to help by passing pails of water from the beach to be poured on the blaze. Resort owners said hotels and beach bungalows were crammed with thousands of foreign tourists because of an influx of people diverted from tsunami-hit areas in Asia. | | An aerial view shows beach-side establishments that were burned at the Philippines' most popular resort island on Boracay, 310 kilometers (190 miles) south of Manila, late Friday, Jan. 21 2005. A fire occurred as hotels and beach bungalows were crammed with thousands of foreign tourists because of an influx of people diverted from tsunami-hit areas in Asia. Boracay, about 310 kilometers southeast of Manila, is famed for its powdery white-sand beaches. Witnesses said the fire started in the center of the market but they were not sure from which stall. The police activated the Crisis Management Team to secure the area to prevent looters from taking advantage. Residents affected by the fire were advised to evacuate to the Balabag National High School in Barangay Balabag and Manoc Manoc Elementary School in Barangay Manoc Manoc. SOURCE - Sun Star |
