DHAKA: A fire at a Philippine rubber slipper factory killed 31 workers on Wednesday and dozens were missing and feared dead.

Government and fire officials said, reports The Straits Times.

Ariel Barayuga, head of bureau of fire protection, said investigators were trying to determine the cause of fire in the capital, Manila, that trapped workers at the two-storey factory building of Kentex Manufacturing Inc, which makes flip-flops and slippers.

A fireman who gave his name as Soriano said 31 bodies had been found, adding most of the victims had died of suffocation.

‘There could be more buried under debris,’ he said.

‘There was someone who was welding at the main entrance and suddenly there was an explosion. It was really fast.’

BDST: 1815 HRS, MAY 13, 2015
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