Fire hits Metro Ayala mall in Cebu City

The third floor of a mall in Cebu City was engulfed in smoke as fire broke out in the toy department, according to a report from Regional GMA News' Balitang Bisdak.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has raised the fire alarm at the Metro Ayala, which is located in Ayala Center Cebu, to Task Force Alpha.

In a statement, the Metro Gaisano management said smoke was detected around 9:30 p.m. on Friday at the third floor toy stockroom.

"The Metro Ayala Emergency Brigade Team and Ayala Center Cebu Emergency Brigade Team are working with the Bureau of Fire and other emergency response teams to manage the situation," the company said.

"All customers and personnel were safely evacuated," they added.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said there are firefighters who were able to enter the building, which is part of efforts to "ventilate" the building so as to put the fire under control.

He added that the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, Nagiel Bañacia Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management (CCDRRMC) chief said the fire has reached the fourth floor.

As of 6:15 a.m., Bañacia posted photos on his Facebook account showing smoke still coming out of Metro Ayala nine hours after the fire was reported. — BAP, GMA News