In one of the deadliest industrial fires in Philippine history, 72 people were carried out in body bags one after another as firefighters and rescuers attempted to clear up the wreckage of a slipper factory in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila.
The deadly blaze started on Wednesday, when welders who were working on the factory's metal front gates inadvertently ignited a number of highly combustible chemicals, which were used for the company's rubber slipper production, according to The New York Times.
Rhay R. Sousa, city spokesman of Valenzuela, Metro Manila, recounted the progress of the fire in an interview.
"The situation happened very fast... Some people had to jump from the building to escape," he said.
Steve Chua, one of the survivors in the fire, stated that the workers of the factory tried to fight the blaze when it started, according to CNN.
"We tried to put the fire out by pouring water and using the fire extinguisher but it was difficult already," he said.
As of Thursday afternoon, 10 factory workers were still unaccounted for. However, the specific number of people in the factory during the time of the fire is difficult to determine, since the log book of the employees present during the day was burned during the incident, according to CNN.
Mayor Rex Gatchalian of Valenzuela states that due to the intense heat of the blaze and the ferocity with which it spread, the bodies recovered from the factory were mostly burned beyond recognition. Currently, relatives of employees in the slipper factory are undergoing the grim task of filling out forms that indicate their loved ones' distinctive marks, such as tattoos, dental features and missing digits, according to the New York Times.
Labor activist groups have already taken to the street to demand justice for the victims of the deadly incident.
"Were there sufficient fire exits?" Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of the activist organization Bayan said.
"Were there enough fire extinguishers inside the factory? Were fire drills previously conducted by the factory? Were inspections previously conducted by the relevant government agencies? Was there criminal negligence on the part of the factory owners and the government inspectors?" he asked.
