On August 2, a fire broke out in a five-story mixed-use residential and commercial building in Manila's Chinatown, the Philippine capital, killing at least 11 people, local community officials said on Friday.
The fire broke out in Manila's Binondo district and firefighters rushed to the scene at around 7:30 a.m. local time (23:00 GMT) after receiving the alarm.
About three hours later, the fire was extinguished, but the exact cause of the fire is not yet known.
Nelson Ty, an elected community official, told DZRH Radio: "The wife of the owner of the building was one of the victims. He also added that some vendors would store their goods in the building at night.
It is unclear if many more people were trapped at the scene of the fire and may have been killed. Ty did not provide exact information, but said authorities were investigating whether there were other missing persons.
The Philippines has a poor track record in enforcing fire safety regulations for buildings, homes, and offices. Last August, a fire claimed the lives of 16 people in a residential and warehouse building; And in May 2023, a fire engulfed Manila's historic Central Post Office building. Earlier, in 2017, a fire at a shopping mall in southern Davao City killed 37 call center employees and a security guard.
Event details
After the fire broke out, emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to carry out rescue operations. The damage and casualties caused by the fire were particularly severe due to the fact that the building is used as both residential and commercial space. Preliminary reports indicate that there are multiple shops and residential units in the building, and the habit of storing goods at night may have increased the risk of fire.
The response of the local community
Community officials and residents expressed shock and grief over the tragedy. Nelson Ty said the community is fully cooperating with the fire department in the aftermath of the fire and is calling on the public to support the families of those killed.
Safety hazards
The fire once again highlighted the problems with fire safety in the Philippines. Many buildings and residential areas in the Philippines lack the necessary fire safety facilities and precautions, which increases the risk of fires. In addition, structural problems in some old buildings also exacerbate safety hazards.
The government's response
The Philippine government has realized the importance of fire safety over the past few years and has taken a series of measures to improve the safety standards of buildings. However, enforcement of these measures still needs to be strengthened, especially in some densely populated areas, such as commercial areas such as Chinatown.
conclusion
The tragic fire is a reminder to all sectors in the Philippines that increased awareness of fire safety and strict enforcement of safety regulations are essential to reduce such disasters. The Philippine government and all sectors of society need to work together to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again and to protect people's lives and property. In the future, the Philippines will also need to strengthen safety inspections of buildings, raise public awareness of fire safety, and ensure that effective emergency response mechanisms are in place to reduce the occurrence of similar tragedies.