Thursday, May 31, 2007 Maritime office building razed
A FIRE of still unknown origin on Wednesday broke out at the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) offices in the Philippine President Lines building in Ermita, Manila. No one was reported hurt in the blaze that had been burning for more than 12 hours as of 5 p.m.
Senior Superintendent Pablito Cordeta of the Manila Fire Department said the fire was reported at about 4:10 a.m. on the 5th floor of the Philippine President Lines building at the corner of UN Avenue and San Marcelino Streets in Manila.
The seven-storey PPL building, owned by Don Emilio Yap, owner of the Manila Hotel and Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, houses the Marina offices, an agency under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) tasked to oversee the shipping industry.
As of press time, firemen have yet to contain the fire as it has spread to other offices. The conflagration was so immense that it reached Task Force Delta and gutted the entire building at 3:30 p.m.
Firemen fear a collapse of some floors of the building after being exposed to intense heat.
Initial reports said the fire broke out at Room 515 and immediately engulfed the fifth floor housing Marina's overseas and domestic shipping, and administrator's offices, before spreading to other offices.
"If the fire doesn't stop, it will soon destroy our regulations and maritime safety offices," said Marina safety and inspection division chief Arnie Santiago.
Three firefighters were almost trapped inside the burning building and were subsequently rescued by their colleagues using an aerial ladder. Firemen had to use breathing apparatus to get near the building due to the thick smoke and tongues of fire coming out of the building. (ECV/Sunnex)
