Yt Framework

A huge fire of still undetermined origin Thursday night gutted down at least 320 business establishments and residential houses at Arolas St., barangay Walled City, Jolo, Sulu.

Jolo fire investigators estimated the damage to properties caused by the conflagration at P40 million.

Initial investigation disclosed the fire started at around 8:45 p.m. at the New ModernTrading owned and managed by Radzhata Sankula Anni that rapidly spread to theother nearby establishments in the crowded street.

A witness identified as Hadji Jul Sangkula, 75, who was occupying the second floor of theestablishment, told firemen he saw electrical sparks near the said firm thatstarted the inferno.

According to the witness, the fire originatednear the wall where an electrical socket was attached to Anni’s establishmentand the flames quickly engulfed the clothing and other materials of the firmthat wildly swallowed the othe adjacent commercial establishments.

Firemen lack firetrucks to put off the raging blaze in the already cramped neighborhood.

Investigators are still trying to inspect and explore other possibilities as to the realcause of the fire.

by: Nonong Santiago