72 Killed in Fire at Footwear Factory in Philippines

Firefighters attempt to control a raging fire at a factory that manufactures slippers in Valenzuela City, north of Manila. (Photo: Reuters)

A fire that engulfed a footwear factory in a suburb of the Philippine Capital has killed 72 people, authorities said.

The blaze swept through the slipper and shoe factory in Valenzuela City on Wednesday, sending huge clouds of thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

Firefighters and police pulled dozens of corpses out of the ruins of the two-storey building, a day after the blaze trapped the terrified workers with apparently few exits and no fire safety training.

“Many of those retrieved were reduced to skulls and bones,” national police chief Leonardo Espina said. “Someone will definitely be charged because of the deaths. It doesn’t matter if it’s an accident, people died. Right now, we are investigating to clearly define what happened. For sure, someone will be charged.”

Sparks from welding equipment used to repair a broken gate are believed to have caused the fire when they ignited flammable chemicals stored nearby.