Fifteen people lost their lives in a factory fire in the Pleasant View residential enclave in Tandang Sora village, suburban Quezon City, after firefighters were delayed due to flooding, traffic, and receiving a wrong address. The tragedy occurred Thursday morning in a small apparel factory, and an investigation has been launched into the delayed response by fire services.
Most victims were factory workers and carpenters who were sleeping in rooms when the blaze erupted. Among the deceased were the factory owner and his child, according to Chief Superintendent Nahum Tarroza of the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Three individuals survived by leaping from the second floor of the two-story factory; they were subsequently hospitalized for injuries.
Firefighters were delayed by approximately 14 minutes due to monsoon-induced flooding and traffic jams, further complicated by a wrong address provided to the emergency services. “I will order an investigation into the delayed response,” said Tarroza.
The fire was eventually extinguished within two hours. Officials are currently investigating the cause of the fire and whether the factory breached any safety regulations. The facility stored combustible materials and textiles used for making apparel, in addition to printing designs on promotional shirts.
Previous incidents of non-compliance with safety standards have led to deadly fires in the Philippines. Notably, a 1996 nightclub fire in Quezon City resulted in 162 fatalities and injured 93 others, underscoring the urgency of enforcing strict safety regulations.
Chief Superintendent Tarroza emphasized the importance of this investigation, not just to hold any guilty parties accountable but also to improve the responsiveness and efficiency of emergency services in the future.