At least 72 people have died from a fire incident on the ground floor of a shoe factory in the Philippines forcing workers to flee upstairs where they were trapped by metal bars across the windows.
Distraught relatives of the victims narrated how their family members sent frantic text messages begging for help after the blaze broke out yesterday evening before they suddenly lost contact.
The building belongs to Kentex Manufacturing Corp, which manufactures rubber flip-flops and other shoes, which are made using highly flammable chemicals, causing the fire to spread quickly.
Officers say there were around 200 to 300 people inside the building at the time, but were unable to give a more accurate number because a log book used to check staff in and out was destroyed and the foreman was among those killed.
Survivors and relatives of the victims said that factory employees worked for below minimum wage, surrounded by chemicals, and were largely unaware of fire safety standards, or where the emergency exits were.
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