A fire ripped through a portion of a small building in Manila’s busy Chinatown district on Friday, leaving at least 11 people dead, police said, adding that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the fire.
MANILA, Philippines — A fire destroyed part of a small building in the busy area of Manila. chinatown district Friday, leaving at least 11 people dead, police said, adding that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the fire.
Some 14 fire engines battled for more than two hours to control the blaze in an ancient five-story building in one of the world’s oldest Chinatowns, a densely populated riverside area in the capital.
Fire investigator Roderick Andrés said the fire started in a restaurant on the ground floor and that several staff members were among the dead. Most of the dead, he added, were found on the second and third floors, and no one else has been reported missing.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna offered her condolences to the families of the victims and ordered inspections to ensure that old buildings meet safety regulations and standards.
Lax enforcement of safety regulations has caused deadly fires in the Philippines in the past.
TO 1996 nightclub fire killed 162 people, mostly students celebrating the end of the school year, in Quezon City in the capital region. About 400 people were packed into the Ozone nightclub when the fire started, but many were unable to escape because the emergency exit was blocked by a new building next door.
This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
