37 die in Philippine shopping mall fire


FE Team | Published: December 24, 2017 16:58:56 | Updated: December 25, 2017 12:09:56


President Rodrigo Duterte comforts a family member of a fire victim in Davao city in Philippines on Sunday. -Reuters Photo

At least 37 people died in a fire at a shopping mall in Philippines on Sunday, local city government officials said on Sunday.

The vice mayor of the southern city of Davao, Paolo Duterte, said the chance of survival for any of the 37 people missing at the NCC Mall was “zero”.

“Let us pray for them,” said Duterte, the eldest son of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The fire broke out on Saturday at a furniture store on the mall’s third level and quickly engulfed an outsourcing business on the upper floor, said a spokeswoman for the city government, Ma. Teresita Gaspan,

According to Reuters, the cause was not known but an investigation was being launched, she said.

President Duterte and his daughter, Sara Duterte, who is mayor of the city, visited the scene late on Saturday to meet anxious relatives of the missing and survivors.

Six people were rescued and taken to hospital.

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