Lightning sets fire to school in Bauang

By Erwin Beleo

BAUANG, La Union — With two weeks left before the opening of classes on June 5, lightning struck and set two school buildings on fire at the Sta. Monica Elementary School, here, last week.

Chief Insp. Joel Lagto, Bauang’s police chief, said there was a thunderstorm May 21 when lightning struck the school and started the fire at 3:30 p.m.

Firefighters responded but it took them four hours to declare the fire out.

The fire destroyed two school buildings, equipment, books, and important school records, according to Sofia Mariñas, a staffer and disaster coordinator of the school.

Lagto said the initial estimate of the cost of damage is P1 million.