A fire razed the public market of Oton town in Iloilo province shortly after midnight on Monday, Dec. 20.

“Nakatanggap ng tawag ang Oton Fire Station galing sa nakakita ng sunog 12:05 a.m. So nagdeploy agad [ng firefighters] kasi malawakan ito,” Superintendent Christopher Regencia, provincial director of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP-Iloilo), said in an interview.

The blaze, according to Regencia, allegedly started at the market’s RTW (ready-to-wear) Section.

“Possible origin niya sa isang stall sa RTW section. Mabilis talaga ‘yan [kumalat] kasi mga clothes,” he said.

“Mga around 2 a.m. pa natin na-under control pero wala pang declaration ng fire out kasi kasalukuyan pa tayong nagma-mopping,” Regencia added.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.

No casualties or injuries have so far been reported.IMT/Photo by Ian Paul Cordero