After the clearing operations done by the City Engineering Office at 5:00 AM today, the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) resumed the retrieval operations in the burned slipper factory in Ugong, Valenzuela City at 6:30 in the morning today. As of 11:45 AM today, 55 casualties were confirmed, excluding the three confirmed dead yesterday. At least more than 10 people are still reported missing.

The fire at the­ factory of Kentex Manufacturing Corporation was first reported to the city fire station at 11:23 AM yesterday, May 13, 2015. It reached the alert level Task Force Alpha at 11:41 AM prompting the city government to immediately deploy 12 trucks, 20 ambulances and several police personnel, including also city social workers, health, search and rescue officials, and other vital city offices.

Initial investigation shows that the fire was caused by a spark from the factory’s gate being welded set nearby containers of chemical compounds to make rubber slippers.

Veato Ang, the factory’s co-owner cannot determine yet the number of employees trapped inside the burning building because the log book which contained the information of personnel on duty that day was also burned.

Officials of the city fire station declared fire under control at 4:11 PM yesterday. Five were reported to be rushed by the city search and rescue officials to the hospitals: two in Chinese General Hospital in Manila and three in Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital. The total number of survivors is yet to be determined.

At 6:00 PM yesterday, the families of the victims were brought to the Maysan Barangay Hall to help authorities identify bodies by giving information about their missing family members. The bodies, as reported by authorities, have been burnt beyond recognition and that identifying them by visual inspection is now impossible. Forensic experts will be looking at the bodies of the victims for possible identification through the information given by their family members. At 3:00 PM today, May 14, families of the victims will go back to the barangay hall.

Mayor REX Gatchalian assured the grieving families that the city government will provide them necessary help—burial assistance, health and food assistance and psychosocial support, among others. The city government is also still in constant communication with the city Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine National Police and Philippine National Police-SOCO, and other rescue and disaster offices to ensure that proper procedures and protocols are followed after the tragedy.