At Least 45 Dead in Philippines Slipper Factory Fire
At least 45 people are reportedly confirmed dead, with dozens more missing, after a fire broke out at a rubber slipper factory that allegedly had bars on its windows preventing workers from escaping.
According to the New York Times, the fire was apparently started by workers welding near the manufacturing chemicals at the Kentex Manufacturing Corp factory in Valenzuela. Relatives of the missing say they were probably trapped by modifications made to the building.
Dionesio Candido, whose daughter, granddaughter, sister-in-law and niece were among the missing, said iron grills reinforced with fencing wire covered windows on the second floor that “could prevent even cats from escaping.”
He said he was allowed by authorities to enter the gutted building, where he saw charred remains “piled on top of each other” but could not say how many.
District Fire Marshal Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu said he was among the first to reach the second floor of the gutted building after the fire and saw “numerous bodies” but could not immediately say how many.
Local media reports quoted relatives as saying their kin sent text messages saying they were on the second floor, but contact was lost shortly after.
Workers fled to the second floor where they were trapped, he said. He was unsure if there were any fire escapes there.
According to the Times, there may have been other accessible exits that were obscured by the smoke. The AP reports an additional 25 workers are currently missing.
