Tragic Fire Claims 11 Lives in Manila's Chinatown Building

At least 11 people died in a fire that broke out in a five-storey residential and commercial building in Manila's Chinatown. The blaze was controlled after three hours. The Philippines has a concerning fire safety record with past incidents causing multiple casualties.

At least 11 people lost their lives on Friday in a devastating fire that engulfed a five-storey residential and commercial building in the Chinatown precinct of Manila, the capital of the Philippines, according to a community official.

The blaze in Binondo district was brought under control about three hours after fire responders were alerted around 7.30 a.m. (2300 GMT). The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Nelson Ty, an elected community official, told radio station DZRH that the wife of the building owner was among the deceased. He added that vendors had used the structure to store their goods at night. It was unclear if more people were trapped and feared dead.

The Philippines has a poor record in enforcing fire safety regulations. Notable incidents include a fire that claimed 16 lives in August last year and a massive blaze at the historic Central Post Office in May 2023. In 2017, a shopping mall fire in Davao City killed 37 call centre agents and a security officer.

(With inputs from agencies.)