Haze alert up over Ayala Cebu Business Park
HAZE alert has been raised over Cebu Business Park where the fire that engulfed Metro Ayala Center Cebu in Cebu City, continues to billow black smoke from the building.
The fire has been ongoing for 14 hours as of 11:30 Saturday, January 06, and Task Force Bravo alarm has been raised, meaning all the fire trucks in Lapu-Lapu City, neighboring towns, and cities were asked to respond.
Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office Chief Nagiel Bañacia said, “Everyone living or staying near Cebu Business Park, who have cardiovascular problem, is advised to temporarily evacuate or transfer to safer area due to heavy hazardous or toxic fumes from the ongoing fire at Metro Gaisano Ayal a.”
It started at 9:30 p.m. Friday night when smoke was detected at the third floor of the toys stock room of the mall. The customers and personnel were swiftly and safely evacuated.
Lawyer Vince Tomaning, spokesperson of Metro Ayala Center Cebu, provided his statement to the media.
“At around 9:30 in the evening of January 5,2018, smoke was detected at the 3/ F of the toys stock room of Metro Ayala Department Store and Supermarket located in Cebu Business Park, Cebu City.
The Metro Ayala and Ayala Center Cebu Emergency Brigade Teams are closely working with the Bureau of Fire and other emergency response teams to manage the situation.
All customers and personnel were safely evacuated, there are no casualties and serious injuries reported.
At of this time, the firefighters are still working on putting off the fire.
The management of Metro Gaisano would like to thank everyone, the firefighters, the volunteers, the government personnel, its employees, concerned citizens, and all those who have helped and assisted in putting off the fire.”
Bañacia said as of 3 a.m. Saturday, the fourth floor of the Metro Ayala building has already collapsed and that it may take two days to completely control the blaze. (CID with reports from Herty Lopez of Superbalita Cebu/Johanna Marie O. Bajenting of SunStar Cebu)