Frightening Video Highlights Tense Rescue From Burning Shopping Mall

It happened Christmas Day in Ormoc City on Leyte Island in the Philippines. Authorities believe firecrackers were somehow set off, sparking the blaze. It’s a common practice to celebrate the holidays by setting off the pyrotechnics, but there’s no evidence anyone actually lit them.

By the time rescue crews arrived, 23 people were dead, many of them burned beyond recognition.

While they were too late to help those people, crowds gathered in awe and fear as they watched a woman desperately attempt to make her way to safety off the roof of the centre. At one point she almost slips, causing gasps of fear from onlookers. She somehow regained her footing and was able to scamper to safety.

Crowds also cheered wildly as firefighters managed to reach people stuck on a fire escape and rescued them before the flames could reach them.

It wasn’t until after the blaze was out that officials began to get some idea of why the death toll was so high. The victims were unable to get out because a key exit was blocked, and many were forced to find alternate escape routes.

“They have a fire exit but the problem with their fire exit is it is padlocked,” complained Ormoc City senior safety inspector Mauro Costa. He added, “they even used the big lock.”