In Manila, factory fire kills at least 58 workers

At least 58 people died after a fire swept through a factory in Manila on Wednesday, and officials say about a dozen people are still missing.

The destroyed footwear factory is in the Valenzuela industrial district, and owner Veato Ang said 200 to 300 people worked there. One survivor said she heard explosions as she ran out of the building, and investigators, who are still trying to determine what caused the blaze, believe that chemicals and flammable materials helped the flames spread quickly.

It took four hours for firefighters to put the fire out, and once they entered the building they found several bodies. "They were lying side by side, but all I could see were their bones," senior superintendent Sergio Soriano said.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up