About 100 families lost their homes when a fire hit a neighborhood in Sitio Sto. Niño, Barangay Pahina Central in Cebu City last night.

It took firefighters about one hour and 40 minutes to control the blaze, which broke out at 6:08 p.m.

They had a hard time entering the fire scene because the access road is only wide enough for two people to pass at a time.

The area is right at the back of the Cebu City Fire Department. A concrete fence separates it from the South Bus Terminal.

No one died. Nor was anyone injured.

The Visayan Electric Co. immediately cut off power to the South Bus Terminal to prevent any untoward incident. As of midnight, electricity had not been restored.

The fire reportedly started in the two-story lodging house owned by one only identified as “Boy Bayot.”

SFO1 Frank Donoso said he is looking into an explosion of a gas tank as the possible cause of the blaze.

The concrete buildings of Gillamac and Uyfang and the University of Cebu marine engineering department on Sanciangko St. stopped the fire from spreading further.

All the fire trucks in Cebu City responded since the blaze was placed under general alarm.

Sitio Sto. Niño has a number of boarding and lodging houses, as it is near a school zone.

Pahina Central Barangay Captain Sisinio Andales said the families are being housed at the barangay hall and sports complex beside the Cebu City Medical Center.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama and City Councilor Gerardo Carillo visited the fire victims last night.