17 women die in Philippines clothing store fire
A huge fire which broke out in a clothing store in the southern Philippines has left 17 employees dead.
All of the victims were women who were sleeping on the top floor of the building when the fire broke out at around 3.55am.
Three women managed to escape from the burning room but were initially unable to open the exit door as it was locked.
A hydraulic car jack was eventually used to pry open the doors, and the women managed to escape.
Police investigator Jonathan Basil said: “The women kept on pounding the hot steel gate while yelling for help.”
One woman who managed to escape from the fire was Mylene Tulo. Ms Tulo said: “We wanted to rouse others from sleep, but the fire was already too strong.”
It is not uncommon for employees in Philippine stores to sleep on the premises overnight especially those who live faraway.
May 15th, 2012 at 10:18 am
this is very pathetic,17 lives lost as a result of some one’s carelessness or negligence
Are there not fire fighting extinguihsers in the premises and even if they are, does the people know how to use them
Secondly I think fire alarm system with optical smoke detectors were not functioning properly and even if there were some installed in the premises
Lives we cannot bring back are gone,safety is all of us our RESPONSIBILITY,
Now that lives are lost and millions of investment burnt away which I think would have been prevented, Let us take satey serious but simple as ABC Always Be Careful