A factory in the Philippines caught fire on Wednesday, killing 72 individuals inside the building. The shoe and slipper factory was located in Valenzuela City, north of Manila.
The fire started during the day on Wednesday when welders were working on the front gate of the Kentex Manufacturing Corporation. Allegedly, some of the sparks from the welding ignited nearby production chemicals. Flames spread quickly and ignited the entire factory, filling it with black smoke.
Investigators are continuing to search the factory for victims. The flames were so intense that many of the bodies are unrecognizable. Only bones were left of some victims.
"Many of those retrieved were reduced to skulls and bones," said Leonardo Espina, the national police chief.
The slipper factory, which produced "Havana" brand slippers, was two stories and employed locals. Most of the victims of the fire were found on the second floor. Officials discovered that most of them were trapped on the second floor of the factory, which had barred windows. Barred windows are commonplace in Valenzuela City, they are used to prevent robberies.
City spokesman Rhay R. Sousa stated that ten workers remain missing. The intensity of the flames weakened the walls and support of the building, hindering firefighters from venturing into the second floor of the building in search of more workers. A work log documenting the employees present during the day of the fire was destroyed in the flames, making it difficult to know exactly how many were there.
The mayor of Valenzuela, Rex Gatchalian, promised that the government would help families of the victims with identification, medical bills, food, and burials. It is unknown who started the fire; investigators are currently searching for evidence of the exact cause.
"Someone will definitely be charged because of the deaths. It doesn’t matter if it’s an accident, people died. Right now, we are investigating to clearly determine what happened," said Police Chief Espina.
