Philippines Market Fire Kills 15 In Zamboanga

Fifteen people including six children perished on Saturday after they were trapped in a burning market in Zamboanga City, police said.

Though the market is tagged “Old”, it remains in operation but curfew is imposed from 9 pm to 4 a.m. Zabala declined to confirm if the people killed in the fire had been sleeping over at the stalls, or had arrived early to prepare their goods for sale.

In 1996, a disco fire left 162 people dead, mostly students celebrating the ends of the school year in one of the deadliest nightclub fires in the world. “They couldn’t find their way out”, Tuttuh said.

Charred bodies were being retrieved from the building, while firemen and stall owners were clearing the area destroyed by the fire, he added.

Damage to property is estimated at P8 million.

The fire was placed under control around 5:20 a.m. and was declared fire out at 7:50 a.m.

Casimiro said it apparently started when sparks from low-slung electric post cables set fire to sidewalk stall umbrellas, then ignited stacks of used clothing being sold at the Zamboanga city market. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said as to the origin of the fire.

The victims were reportedly traders who slept at their stalls ahead of the busy weekend market.

A few of those injured who suffered third-degree burns were rushed to different hospitals for treatment.

The mayor said she has instructed City Social Welfare and Development Officer Socorro Rojas to provide the necessary assistance to the victims.

Dilapidated buildings, a lack of adequate fire safety systems and inspectors and weak enforcement of fire safety regulations have contributed to many fires in the Philippines. Thirteen others were injured.