REGION | UPDATE on Cavite fire: Fire still raging in Cavite factory; Officials denies death reports

The HTI Factory inside Cavite's PEZA compound - fire is yet to be fully contained as it continue to rage the entire building. BFP and local officials believes that it would be best and safe to let it burnt out to prevent further damages. As accordingly, stored chemicals my cause an even huge explosion when mixed with water from the trucks of BFP. Residents are still in fear for the missing bodies of those workers who reported to work on Feb. 1, 2017 when the fire broke out. They can't help, but think that the Factory Officials including those of the Local and PEZA Officials who may have joint hands in hiding the large possible numbers of fatalities. - HAROLD AYAO/GamiawNews | Photo Courtesy Yumi Lugod/CNNPH

Metro Manila  — Nearly two days after fire broke out inside the economic zone in Cavite, firefighters have yet to put it out, preventing authorities to go in and rescue those who could be trapped inside.

As of Friday morning, there are still no reported deaths from the blaze that razed the Housing Technology Industries (HTI) building in the Cavite Economic Zone compound in General Trias on Wednesday.

Earlier, Cavite Governor Boying Remulla told CNN Philippines one of the victims in critical condition had died. He later clarified the reported death was not related to the fire, and apologized for the erroneous report.

There are two patients in critical condition, and 25 other patients confined at the Divine Grace Hospital. Cavite Economic Zone Administrator Norma Tañag said 15 more victims are at the General Trias Hospital.

Authorities said 126 people were injured from the fire. 

Remulla said around 4,500 HTI employees were working Wednesday night.

Authorities have yet to identify how many were inside the factory during the fire, while HTI is still conducting a headcount of its employees.

As of 6 a.m. Friday, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has not put out the fire.
Once the BFP issues a fire-out declaration, the site will be turned over to Scene of the Crime Operatives. Only then can they release official casualty figures.

Tañag denied firemen saw bodies around the factory premises. She said they haven't been able to enter the fire zone.

A help desk has been set up at the HTI office where family members may inquire about their relatives.

Massive fire

Remulla said an overheated installation machine may have sparked the fire on the first floor of the three-storey building.

He said the estimated damage is at P5 billion. The fire destroyed the showroom, administration office, and insulation rooms of the six-hectare compound.

Factory employees reportedly heard a loud explosion from the molding area on the first floor at around 6 p.m Wednesday.

One of the employees, who refused to be named, said she was about to begin her shift when the smoke detector went off, prompting her to run for her life.

Another victim, Lumberto Escorido, had burns in nearly half of his body, said brother Adrian.
One woman waiting outside the compound said she and other people were looking for their relatives, fearing they might be trapped inside the building.

"May mga naghahanap sa loob, marami naghahanap... Tinanong ko mga empleyado ng HTI meron daw talagang hindi nakalabas," she said.

[Translation: There are people looking inside; a lot of people are looking. I asked HTI employees and they said there really were some people who were not able to escape.]

Remulla said HTI and the local government are assisting the victims.

"The company is taking care of everything but we are here to help them...we are prepared to fork out the amounts needed to help the families," Remulla said.

He has withdrawn the move to declare a state of calamity, saying the provincial government still has sufficient funds for the victims.

CEZ: 'HTI is compliant'

Records show this was the first fire at the Cavite Export Processing Zone that was built in 1980.
Tañag said the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), which manages the country's export processing zones, conducted its annual inspection in HTI last June 2016.

She said HTI was compliant with PEZA's safety requirements.

PEZA and the CEZ Investors Association will offer financial assistance to the victims and HTI will shoulder all the victims' expenses, Tañag said.