2 bodies recovered from Cagayan de Oro fire, 1 still missing

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Rescue workers recovered the charred remains of two people from the debris of a fire that engulfed a residential compound in Barangay Nazareth on Friday, 9 October, while a third female boarder remained missing.

The blaze broke out around 5 a.m. along 9th Street and burned for approximately two hours, destroying several houses, including the ancestral home of the Pabili family and a three-story residential building made of light materials.

Authorities said three female boarders, reportedly college classmates, were initially reported missing after becoming trapped on the building's third floor.

Witnesses reportedly heard cries for help from inside the burning structure.

Urban Search and Rescue personnel recovered two bodies late Friday morning, while search operations continued for the third missing boarder.

Scene of the Crime Operatives examined the remains for possible identification before transferring them from the fire scene.

The identities of the victims had yet to be established.

Barangay councilor Oming Pimentel said authorities were still working to identify the missing woman.

"Relatives are calling the cell phone but no response yet," Pimentel said.

A firewall surrounding the compound reportedly helped prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby structures, including a mosque and a chapel.

Authorities have yet to disclose the cause of the fire.