11 Dead in Fire at Building in Philippines

At least 11 people have died following a fire that engulfed a five-story residential and commercial building in Manila's Chinatown district, the Philippines, officials reported on Friday.

The fire broke out in the Binondo area of the Philippine capital and was brought under control after about three hours of intense firefighting efforts, which began around 11:00 PM GMT.

Local authorities from the fire department confirmed that the blaze was extinguished, but the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Nelson Tee, a local elected official in the affected area, informed DZRH radio that among the victims was the wife of the building's owner. The building was also used by vendors for storing goods overnight.

There is currently no confirmation on whether more individuals might have been trapped inside the building, raising concerns that the death toll could potentially rise.