MANILA - Some 500 families have sought shelter at the Kaumpurnah Elementary School in Isabela City, Basilan after a fire ravaged their homes on Saturday.

Most of the evacuees saved only the clothes on their bodies when flames engulfed their homes in zones 3 and 4 of Barangay Kaumpurnah.

Among the victims were Hadja Aiza Umbrah, who went back to her razed house on Sunday to look for a baking pan she uses in selling baulo, a local Tausug delicacy and her only source of income.

Yusuf Mohammad, another resident, also checked if his Qur'an books were saved.

The elementary school in Kaunpurnah have canceled classes on Monday since eight to 15 families of fire survivors are currently staying in each of its 32 classrooms.

The local government is looking for another evacuation site to relocate the displaced families.

Relief goods from the City Social and Welfare Development Office have yet to be distributed, as of posting time.