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Haze alert up in Cebu City as mall fire rages on

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/01/06/cebu1.jpg"/><figcaption>Cebu City authorities have issued a haze alert as smoke filled roads near the Metro Ayala Center Cebu, where fire has raged since Friday night. <em>Immae Lachica, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Officials on Saturday morning issued a haze alert in Cebu City as fire continued to raze a department store building of the Metro Ayala Center Cebu. </p><p>As of this posting, the thick smoke billowing from the building, which caught fire around 9:30 p.m. Friday, has enveloped the Cebu Business Park commercial area. </p><p>Nagiel Bañacia, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, on Saturday issued an advisory to the public warning about health risks that fumes from the fire may pose.</p><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10213325369383292&amp;id=1069792419" data-width="auto"> </div><p>Residents and motorists experienced very poor visibility in the area as firefighters continued operations to prevent the fire from reaching the main mall.</p><p>Traffic enforcers were deployed to direct vehicles while motorists needed to switch on their headlights and fog lights to prevent collision on roads where smoke had reached. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/01/06/cebu2.jpg"/><figcaption>A traffic enforcer directs motorists as smoke from the fire caused near zero visibility in the commercial area. <em>Jude Torres, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/01/06/cebu3.jpg"/><figcaption>A fireman takes a quick break to rest and eat after trying to douse the fire that has been raging for almost 13 hours. <em>Charry Lane Coronel, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>More than 13 hours since the fire started, the Bureau of Fire Protection has yet to declare the blaze under control.</p><p>The fire was known to have started at the department store&#x27;s toy stockroom at the third floor then reached the sixth and topmost floor of the building. </p><p>Bañacia said the fire has destroyed the whole supermarket.</p><p>No one was reported injured in the blaze as all customers and mall employees were safely evacuated.</p><p>The fire was raised to Task Force Bravo on Saturday morning, prompting firefighting units from neighboring towns and cities to respond.</p><p>Heavy duty construction equipment, including a crane, were earlier used to demolish the building&#x27;s concrete walls to clear the smoke and let firefighters douse the blaze.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/05/18/fire-hits-metro-ayala-center-cebu">Fire hits Metro Ayala Center Cebu</a></li></ul>

<p>Officials on Saturday morning issued a haze alert in Cebu City as fire continued to raze a department store building of the Metro Ayala Center Cebu. </p>

Officials on Saturday morning issued a haze alert in Cebu City as fire continued to raze a department store building of the Metro Ayala Center Cebu.