Deadly Fire Ravages Historic Manila Chinatown

A fire engulfed a section of Manila's Chinatown district, culminating in at least 11 fatalities. Firefighters battled the blaze, which originated in an eatery. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the cause, while local authorities emphasize enforcing safety regulations to prevent future tragedies.

A devastating fire engulfed part of a small building in Manila's bustling Chinatown district on Friday, resulting in at least 11 deaths, as confirmed by police officials. Investigations are currently underway to ascertain the blaze's cause.

Approximately 14 firetrucks were deployed to control the fire, which raged for over two hours in an antiquated five-story structure situated in one of the world's oldest Chinatowns, a densely populated area by the river in the capital city.

Fire investigator Roderick Andres revealed that the fire ignited in an eatery on the ground floor, resulting in the deaths of several staff members. He noted that most of the victims were discovered on the building's second and third floors, with no additional missing persons reported.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna expressed condolences to the victims' families and mandated inspections to ensure older buildings meet safety regulations and standards.

Previous lax enforcement of safety regulations has led to deadly fires in the Philippines. A 1996 nightclub fire in Quezon City claimed 162 lives, primarily students celebrating the end of their school term. The incident saw many trapped due to a blocked emergency exit.

(With inputs from agencies.)