Several feared dead in fire at Leyte penal colony

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — Fire of a still unknown origin hit the Eastern Visayas penal colony in Abuyog town, in Leyte around 3:45 p.m. on Thursday.

Abuyog deputy fire chief Junrey Ong said there were fatalities in the fire but they could not determine how many as of 11 p.m., Thursday, because the fire had not been put out by then.

But based on the head count, he added at least 14 inmates were missing. He, however, said they had not received reports that some inmates escaped during the fire.

The fire hit the maximum security building composed of nine cells, with more than 1,500 prisoners.

One said the firefighters from the  towns of Mahaplag,Tanauan, Sogod and Hinunangan,  as well as Tacloban City, were helping to put out the fire.

Investigators will determine the cause of the fire in  the  maximum security building inside the prison colony located in Barangay Mahagna, about 20 kilometers away from the town proper of Abuyog.

Local police and soldiers were deployed  inside the facility.

Those who survived  the fire were brought to the medium security building, which is about 700 meters away from the burning building.

There are seven buildings inside the only penal colony in Eastern Visayas. SFM