OVER 100 HURT IN HUGE FACTORY FIRE IN CAVITE

Governor says 10 in critical condition, 3 missing

Ten persons were in critical condition after sustaining third-degree burns during the huge fire that hit House Technology Industries (HTI) complex inside the Cavite Export Processing Zone in General Trias town on Wednesday evening.

Cavite Governor Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday that a total of 104 people, including two Japanese executives, have been brought to various hospitals for treatment while three went missing. Some 60 victims have been sent home.

A third of about 15,000 employees were on duty when the fire struck and company officials were doing a count to find out if any more were missing at the sprawling factory compound located about 26 kilometers (16 miles) south of Manila.

The fire was under control but has not been fully extinguished nearly 18 hours after it started, Remulla said.

The fire was said to have started at around 5 p.m. Wednesday in a section where a machine used to manufacture house insulation materials overheated, he added.

Some employees jumped from windows to escape the blaze at the three-story building where pre-fabricated house parts are manufactured for export to Japan.

Among those hurt were Japanese executives Nahgae Hideki, 44, and Tushimitsu Endo, 66.

Remulla said they were arranging the transfer of the ten burn victims to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), which is better equipped.

“The fire happened as the employees were about to change their shift. Some people already got in but others were able to run out,” he said.

“Kasi ngayong oras na ito, all these people outside are supposed to be inside the factory which is (still) burning. Kaya ina-account pa namin ang lahat ng tao so we know who are missing and who are in the hospital para malaman namin kung ilan talaga ang nawawala at matrace natin kung anong nangyari sa kanila,” Remulla added.

Fire Senior Superintendent Sergio Soriano Jr., Calabarzon BFP regional director, said the fire which reached Task Force Delta was declared under control around 12:30 a.m. Thursday but smoke continued to billow out of the building as most of the materials inside the factory were combustible.

Remulla said they have asked for assistance from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco), Disaster Victim Identification and other government agencies.

He said the HTI, which has a facility that is bigger than the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, is the largest employer in General Trias town. / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES/AP

/AP PHOTO/JOEAL CALUPITAN SMOKE RISES from the HTI factory compound in General Trias town in Cavite. The Cavite governor says more than 100 workers have been injured and at least three are missing in a fire believed to have been caused by a machine that overheated.