Fire engulfs cathedral in Isabela
2024-Apr-23 12:00
RAZED. The aftermath of the fire that hit the St. Ferdinand Parish Church in Isabela on Monday morning (April 22, 2024). Authorities are still investigating the cause of the incident. (Photo courtesy of Ilagan Diocese Facebook page)
MANILA – A fire engulfed the St. Ferdinand Parish Church in Ilagan City, Isabela on Monday morning.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reported that the church, which was undergoing initial renovations, caught fire at around 11:40 a.m.
The blaze also caused a large portion of the cathedral's roof to collapse.
"The fire ravaged everything," Fr. Ric-Zeus Angobang, the parish priest said in an article posted on the CBCP news website.
Firefighters declared the fire out after nearly an hour.
The Catholic priest said the fire occurred while workers were installing steel trusses on the church's ceiling, for the ceiling fans – their first major project since he assumed the parish in August 2023.
"So this happened while there's an ongoing reinforcement of the ceiling of the parish church," Angobang added.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blaze.
At the same time, Angobang appealed to parishioners for their continued prayers.
"Nobody wants this (to happen), but we can surrender to God's mercy and rise from these ashes, and work together to rebuild it," he said.
The St. Ferdinand Parish Church in IIagan City became the diocese's first cathedral when Ilagan was established as a diocese in 1970.
A new cathedral was built at its current location in Gamu town in early 2000. (PNA)