16 dead in Philippines store inferno

The incident occurred early Wednesday when shop clerks were sleeping in the store in Butuan, a small town on the southern island of Mindanao.

The fire broke out at 3:55 a.m. local time and lasted for five hours, officials said.

Police Chief Inspector Reynante Sibayton said firefighters and police found 16 bodies from the ravaged building.

Sibayton said that an investigation has been launched into the incident to determine what sparked the blaze.

“We wanted to rouse others from sleep, but the fire was already too strong,” said store employee Mylene Tulo, who escaped with two co-workers.

Some store employees also sustained minor burns on their arms.

At least 21 employees were at the store when the fire broke out, said a store supervisor.

It is common for Filipinos in low-paying jobs to sleep at their place of work.

DB/GHN/MA

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