The local government of Bacolod City on Tuesday declared a week of mourning after a deadly fire killed 17 people in the city on All Souls' Day.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the week of mourning will start on November 2 and end November 8. He said the city will provide stress debriefing to those who lost their loved ones in the fire.

Leonardia said the whole community is grieving over the tragic loss of many lives in the fire. He encouraged Bacoleños to condole and support the families of the victims and offer a one-minute prayer for the victims at noontime for the next six days.

City fire marshall Senior Inspector Pamela Rojane Candido said the fire, which started at a boarding house in Barangay 19, destroyed 59 homes and caused an estimated P4 million worth of damage to property. More than 60 families were left homeless in the fire.

She said a lighted candle or an improvised lamp caused the fire, which started at 1:19 a.m. 

She said the Bureau of Fire Protection initially recovered 16 charred bodies from the boarding house of Margie Depakakibo. The local Department of Social Welfare and Development later confirmed a 17th victim identified as Annavic Celiz.

All the casualties were boarders of Depakakibo.