An early morning hotel fire claimed the lives of 79 people, most of whom were attending the "Destiny Crusade" in the Philippines led by evangelists Joyce Meyer and Don Clowers. The conference was sponsored by Don Clowers Ministries, a Texas-based organization. Initial reports of the blaze listed 70 dead and 54 injured. A representative for Don Clowers Ministries told PFO that of the 79 persons who perished, all but 10 were believed to be attending the "Destiny Crusade."
The Manor Hotel, a six-story budget hotel in Quezon City, had 236 registered guests, 172 of whom were attending the conference. Authorities said the hotel "looked more like a prison than a resort" because of barred windows used to deter thefts. Feliciano Belmonte, the city's mayor, said that the hotel had been warned about its inadequate fire safety.
Eugene Schwebler, a member of a missionary group attending the crusade that was staying at the hotel, told the Associated Press, "There were 160 people in our group. I don't know how many came out. The lights went out, and we heard people screaming." Schwebler first attempted to leave the hotel through a hallway but was turned back by the heat. He was able to escape by removing the air conditioning unit in his room, which gave him access to a fire escape. Many of the victims were found in bathrooms, where they had retreated to douse themselves with water before succumbing to the smoke and fire.
According to a report in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, while the Philippines is predominately Roman Catholic, evangelical ministries are often popular among the country's poor. The Araneta Center, site of the conference, was "a 30 to 60 minute drive from the hotel, which is where many poor people from the rural areas were staying while attending the services," the newspaper reported.
Meyer refused to speak to the Post Dispatch, her hometown newspaper, about the tragedy. When Repps Hudson phoned Manila, a woman told the reporter that "Meyer was unavailable to come to the phone."
Meyer claims to receive "words" from God for protection and the protection of others. She tells the story of walking through an airport corridor when God told her to pray in the Spirit. She prayed and spoke in tongues as she walked to the gate. As she arrived at the gate, she noticed a family of Satanists sitting, waiting to board the airplane. However, in her Philippine crusade appearance, no apparent word of knowledge for the protection of attendees came from the evangelist.
Meyer has stated, "Yes, I do hear from God because I spend a lot of time with God." She also has claimed, "I'm not a prophet of God. I'm a woman of God that's preaching the gospel. I operate with a prophetic flare. And God gives me words and things."
The disaster was the deadliest hotel fire in the Philippines and the worst such catastrophe in the country since a fire at a discotheque killed 160 people in 1996.
—MKG
______________________________________________________________________
August 19, 2001, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Country's deadliest hotel fire; Pre-dawn terror,
iklimnet,
WHOLE families gripped the metal grilles in terror, weeping and calling for help as firefighters doused them with water to try to cool them down.
A pre-dawn fire that ripped through the six-story Quezon City Manor Hotel yesterday killed at least 70 people and injured at least 41 more, becoming the worst fire disaster to hit the country since the 1996 Ozone Disco blaze in the same city.
A total of 168 evangelists were staying at the budget hotel along Kamias Street, to attend the "Dawn Flower Destiny Conference," a Christian crusade sponsored by the Texas-based Don Clowers Ministries.
Many of the casualties, including children, died of suffocation and smoke inhalation in their rooms. The only marks on most of the bodies were black patches of soot around their mouths and nostrils. Only one fatality was recovered with severe burns.
The cause of the blaze, which was first noticed before 4 a.m. and put out two hours later, could not immediately be determined.
Initial investigations showed a strong possibility of a short circuit, officials said.
Arson investigators are looking into reports that the hotel tapped its electricity from another building at the back of the Manor, said Senior Supt. Jacinto Diquiatco, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) northern fire district director.
Initial reports showed the fire was caused by "overheating" of the air-conditioning system, according to a police spokesperson.
Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte said the fire most probably started near a restaurant and karaoke bar on the third floor of the hotel, possibly in its kitchen.
From the outside, Manor hotel did not even appear to be damaged. The flames did not spread very far, but thick columns of smoke did.
Only the interior of the third and fourth floors were clearly ravaged by the flames but on the upper floors that were untouched by the fire, dead bodies were found lying in hallways and hotel rooms.
At the height of the tragedy, fire fighters waged an uphill battle trying to rescue hotel guests trapped in their rooms by iron bars on the windows and balconies.
"It was a very depressing scene, especially it was sad to see the victims just helpless," Johnny Yu, Metro Manila director for civil defense, told Agence France Presse.
President Macapagal-Arroyo visited survivors in one hospital, then tried to console relatives of victims.
"She told me that I can be assured of assistance from the government, but she did not specify what help," said Purita Legazpi, whose cousin died in the fire.
A total of 70 people, including three children, were confirmed dead as of noon yesterday. Sixty-two bodies were brought to Camp Karingal in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. The others were in hospitals, police said.
All information on the casualties will be compiled at the camp, officials said.
The BFP said 41 of the injured were brought to the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), Quirino Labor Hospital, the Lung Center, the V. Luna Medical Center, and the Quezon City Medical Center.
Updated
March 24, 2006, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Five QC officials fired for hotel fire in 2001,
Officials blame a lack of fire escapes and alarms for the deaths of at least 75 people after a fire burned a six-story hotel near Manila early this morning.
As the fire swept through the hotel, people were trapped in their rooms because their windows were barred to prevent burglaries.
Reports suggest most of the victims died from smoke inhalation. Firefighters struggled to cut through the grills with power tools to rescue survivors.
About 62 people were reportedly dead at the scene, and another 13 died at the hospital. At least another 57 are in the hospital with third degree burns, according to wire reports.
Most of the victims in the fire were Filipinos, and participants of a weekend Christian evangelical gathering sponsored by the Don Clowers Ministry of Irving, Texas. A total of 172 people had checked into the hotel. It is unclear whether or not any Americans were among the casualties.
Guests Complained About Lack of Fire Exits
According to one official, the Quezon City Manor Hotel, located just north of the Manila's tourist center, was inspected three months ago. Now, this inspection reveals a number of violations of fire safety regulations, and the owners, the management, were given between 15 and 30 days to comply with the regulations, according to BBC news sources.
Fire officials now believe that the hotel never did make the hotel comply to the regulations. Officials say that if metal bars are placed over windows, they should be able to open from the inside. A fire official also said that the hotel was also not equipped with a fire alarm.
According to BBC news sources, the Philippines has a pretty poor fire safety record. Building owners begin to ignore the regulations, and they usually pay off regulatory officials when they come to inspect buildings.
It is not yet clear whether or not the management of the Quezon City Manor Hotel did just that.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but government officials are acting swiftly to find out exactly what happened.______________________________________________________________________
August 18, 2001, ABC News, At Least 75 Dead in Hotel Fire,
Officials blame a lack of fire escapes and alarms for the deaths of at least 75 people after a fire burned a six-story hotel near Manila early this morning.
As the fire swept through the hotel, people were trapped in their rooms because their windows were barred to prevent burglaries.
Reports suggest most of the victims died from smoke inhalation. Firefighters struggled to cut through the grills with power tools to rescue survivors.
About 62 people were reportedly dead at the scene, and another 13 died at the hospital. At least another 57 are in the hospital with third degree burns, according to wire reports.
Most of the victims in the fire were Filipinos, and participants of a weekend Christian evangelical gathering sponsored by the Don Clowers Ministry of Irving, Texas. A total of 172 people had checked into the hotel. It is unclear whether or not any Americans were among the casualties.
Guests Complained About Lack of Fire Exits
According to one official, the Quezon City Manor Hotel, located just north of the Manila's tourist center, was inspected three months ago. Now, this inspection reveals a number of violations of fire safety regulations, and the owners, the management, were given between15 and 30 days to comply with the regulations, according to BBC news sources.
Fire officials now believe that the hotel never did make the hotel comply to the regulations. Officials say that if metal bars are placed over windows, they should be able to open from the inside. A fire official also said that the hotel was also not equipped with a fire alarm.
According to BBC news sources, the Philippines has a pretty poor fire safety record. Building owners begin to ignore the regulations, and they usually pay off regulatory officials when they come to inspect buildings.
It is not yet clear whether or not the management of the Quezon City Manor Hotel did just that.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but government officials are acting swiftly to find out exactly what happened.
"The issuance of the building permit and the business permit is through the local government unit," said Government Minister Joe Lina. "I've ordered the relief of the fire marshall to pave the way for an impartial investigation."
To date, this is the second worst fire in the nation's history. The worst was in March 1996, when at least 160 people, mostly teenagers, were killed in a Manila discotheque, also in the Quezon City district.
August 19, 2001, AP - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Philippine officials prepare criminal charges against hotel owner after deadly fire, by Jim Gomez,
MANILA, Philippines {AP} — Officials said Sunday they were preparing criminal charges in connection with the Philippines' deadliest hotel fire, claiming safety violations contributed to the deaths of 72 people, most from smoke inhalation.
Photos
Most of the victims at the six-story Manor Hotel in suburban Manila were attending a religious conference sponsored by a U.S.-based evangelical group. Nearly all died of smoke inhalation or suffocation. The fire was detected shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday, and many victims were found piled atop each other in bathrooms after fleeing smoke in the corridors and bars on their windows.
The Bureau of Fire Protection has formed a special team to investigate the blaze in a crowded neighborhood in Manila's Quezon city district and gather evidence against owner William Genato, who was being sought for questioning.
"I pity those people who were trapped in there," Romeo Villafuerte, head of the investigating team, told The Associated Press. "That building was really a firetrap."
Inspectors discovered a year ago that the hotel had no emergency alarms, properly functioning firefighting equipment or adequate escape routes. They notified the owner to make corrections, Villafuerte said, adding that a check after the fire showed the deficiencies hadn't been corrected.
Villafuerte said he could file the charges against Genato as early as Monday. The investigation also could implicate government officials who allowed the hotel to operate despite its defects, he said.
Firefighters frantically cut through the white ornate burglar bars on the hotel windows to rescue 18 people, and two jumped to safety.
A short-circuit in the ceiling of a third-floor stockroom sparked the blaze, Villafuerte said. Thick smoke spread quickly through the stairways and ventilation shaft and accumulated in the upper floors, where most of the victims were sleeping.
The hotel's power was cut during the fire. Without emergency lights in the smoke-filled corridors, the victims apparently panicked in their rooms, where they were later overwhelmed and killed by the smoke. Nobody used the fire exits, Villafuerte said.
The concrete structure was apparently built in the late 1970s and may have previously been damaged by fire, local officials said. It was apparently not originally designed as a hotel — there were no windows in the rear — and had some permanent occupants.
It was the Philippines' worst fire since a 1996 discotheque blaze killed 160 people.
Most of the victims from Saturday's blaze had been attending a nearby evangelical Christian conference run by the Irving, Texas Don Clowers Ministries.
The hotel had 236 registered guests — 172 taking part in the Christian crusade. Several Americans came for the "Destiny Conference," but no foreigners were believed to be among the casualties.
Officials said 15 bodies, nine belonging to women, remained unidentified.
"The common denominator among those who were left behind really was adverse shock and disbelief," said Joseph Bacareza, a Bureau of Fire Protection doctor who supervised the identification of the remains.
A throng of residents living near the hotel prayed for the victims during a Mass in front of the building Sunday. A priest lit candles at its doorsteps.
Outside, motorists slowed to a stop to gaze at the building, which showed no outward sign of the tragedy except for the sawed-off iron bars, with bits of denim trousers hanging from one.
August 25, 2001, The Philippine Star, 8 Manor officials charged by cops, by Cecille Suerte Felipe,
The Quezon City police filed criminal charges yesterday against eight more officials of the Manor Hotel where a fire killed 73 people and injured 51 others last week.
The charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple deaths and injuries now cover the entire management of Manor, including its incorporators.
Among those charged was Rebecca Genato, the hotel's president and wife of the owner. Her husband, William Genato, was charged with the same crime early this week.
Others charged were Forferio Germina, Marion Fernandez, Dionisia Cua Arengino, Antonio Beltran, Candelaria Aranador, Ofelia Alberto and Alma Santos, all incorporators of the hotel.
If found guilty, they face a maximum of six years in prison and possible fines and payment of compensation to victims.
Hotel owner Genato did not show up in yesterday's preliminary investigation of the case at the Quezon City Prosecutors Office. He instead sent his lawyers to face probers from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and some relatives of the victims.
Assistant City Prosecutor Alfredo Agcaoili hence reset the preliminary probe to next week, noting that the evidence submitted by the BFP were still incomplete. He gave the probers until Aug. 29 to come up with more documents to support their case.
Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte said the police also plan to charge at least six government officials next week on accusations relating to negligence in fire and safety inspections.
Nine city officials, including the fire marshal, have already been relieved from their post.
Belmonte said the tragedy could have been prevented had city officials strictly implemented fire regulations before issuing permits for the hotel to operate.
Most of those killed in the Aug. 18 blaze succumbed to smoke inhalation after they were trapped between a searing, smoky corridor and the ornate, white iron grills on the hotel room windows.
Fire officials said a short-circuit in the ceiling of a third-floor karaoke bar sparked the blaze. Thick smoke spread quickly through the stairways and ventilation shaft, and accumulated in the upper floors where most of the victims were sleeping.
The budget hotel was packed with people attending an evangelical Christian conference at the Araneta Coliseum in nearby Cubao run by the Texas-based Don Clowers Ministries.
Authorities said the hotel's fire escapes led to dead ends and that the six-story building had no sprinkler system, emergency lights, or fire alarm. They also stressed that the fire exits were blocked or locked and that the fire hose cabinet contained no hose.
Manor president Rebecca Genato denied most of these claims, saying her hotel was prepared for fires.
The hotel's business permit expired in June and was not renewed after it was found to be stealing electricity through illegal "jumpers." The hotel was also found to be violating fire regulations as early as August last year.
____________________________________________________________________________
iklimnet,
WHOLE families gripped the metal grilles in terror, weeping and calling for help as firefighters doused them with water to try to cool them down.
A pre-dawn fire that ripped through the six-story Quezon City Manor Hotel yesterday killed at least 70 people and injured at least 41 more, becoming the worst fire disaster to hit the country since the 1996 Ozone Disco blaze in the same city.
A total of 168 evangelists were staying at the budget hotel along Kamias Street, to attend the "Dawn Flower Destiny Conference," a Christian crusade sponsored by the Texas-based Don Clowers Ministries.
Many of the casualties, including children, died of suffocation and smoke inhalation in their rooms. The only marks on most of the bodies were black patches of soot around their mouths and nostrils. Only one fatality was recovered with severe burns.
The cause of the blaze, which was first noticed before 4 a.m. and put out two hours later, could not immediately be determined.
Initial investigations showed a strong possibility of a short circuit, officials said.
Arson investigators are looking into reports that the hotel tapped its electricity from another building at the back of the Manor, said Senior Supt. Jacinto Diquiatco, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) northern fire district director.
Initial reports showed the fire was caused by "overheating" of the air-conditioning system, according to a police spokesperson.
Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte said the fire most probably started near a restaurant and karaoke bar on the third floor of the hotel, possibly in its kitchen.
From the outside, Manor hotel did not even appear to be damaged. The flames did not spread very far, but thick columns of smoke did.
Only the interior of the third and fourth floors were clearly ravaged by the flames but on the upper floors that were untouched by the fire, dead bodies were found lying in hallways and hotel rooms.
At the height of the tragedy, fire fighters waged an uphill battle trying to rescue hotel guests trapped in their rooms by iron bars on the windows and balconies.
"It was a very depressing scene, especially it was sad to see the victims just helpless," Johnny Yu, Metro Manila director for civil defense, told Agence France Presse.
President Macapagal-Arroyo visited survivors in one hospital, then tried to console relatives of victims.
"She told me that I can be assured of assistance from the government, but she did not specify what help," said Purita Legazpi, whose cousin died in the fire.
A total of 70 people, including three children, were confirmed dead as of noon yesterday. Sixty-two bodies were brought to Camp Karingal in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. The others were in hospitals, police said.
All information on the casualties will be compiled at the camp, officials said.
The BFP said 41 of the injured were brought to the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC), Quirino Labor Hospital, the Lung Center, the V. Luna Medical Center, and the Quezon City Medical Center.
Updated
March 24, 2006, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Five QC officials fired for hotel fire in 2001,
Officials blame a lack of fire escapes and alarms for the deaths of at least 75 people after a fire burned a six-story hotel near Manila early this morning.
As the fire swept through the hotel, people were trapped in their rooms because their windows were barred to prevent burglaries.
Reports suggest most of the victims died from smoke inhalation. Firefighters struggled to cut through the grills with power tools to rescue survivors.
About 62 people were reportedly dead at the scene, and another 13 died at the hospital. At least another 57 are in the hospital with third degree burns, according to wire reports.
Most of the victims in the fire were Filipinos, and participants of a weekend Christian evangelical gathering sponsored by the Don Clowers Ministry of Irving, Texas. A total of 172 people had checked into the hotel. It is unclear whether or not any Americans were among the casualties.
Guests Complained About Lack of Fire Exits
According to one official, the Quezon City Manor Hotel, located just north of the Manila's tourist center, was inspected three months ago. Now, this inspection reveals a number of violations of fire safety regulations, and the owners, the management, were given between 15 and 30 days to comply with the regulations, according to BBC news sources.
Fire officials now believe that the hotel never did make the hotel comply to the regulations. Officials say that if metal bars are placed over windows, they should be able to open from the inside. A fire official also said that the hotel was also not equipped with a fire alarm.
According to BBC news sources, the Philippines has a pretty poor fire safety record. Building owners begin to ignore the regulations, and they usually pay off regulatory officials when they come to inspect buildings.
It is not yet clear whether or not the management of the Quezon City Manor Hotel did just that.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but government officials are acting swiftly to find out exactly what happened.______________________________________________________________________
August 18, 2001, ABC News, At Least 75 Dead in Hotel Fire,
Officials blame a lack of fire escapes and alarms for the deaths of at least 75 people after a fire burned a six-story hotel near Manila early this morning.
As the fire swept through the hotel, people were trapped in their rooms because their windows were barred to prevent burglaries.
Reports suggest most of the victims died from smoke inhalation. Firefighters struggled to cut through the grills with power tools to rescue survivors.
About 62 people were reportedly dead at the scene, and another 13 died at the hospital. At least another 57 are in the hospital with third degree burns, according to wire reports.
Most of the victims in the fire were Filipinos, and participants of a weekend Christian evangelical gathering sponsored by the Don Clowers Ministry of Irving, Texas. A total of 172 people had checked into the hotel. It is unclear whether or not any Americans were among the casualties.
Guests Complained About Lack of Fire Exits
According to one official, the Quezon City Manor Hotel, located just north of the Manila's tourist center, was inspected three months ago. Now, this inspection reveals a number of violations of fire safety regulations, and the owners, the management, were given between15 and 30 days to comply with the regulations, according to BBC news sources.
Fire officials now believe that the hotel never did make the hotel comply to the regulations. Officials say that if metal bars are placed over windows, they should be able to open from the inside. A fire official also said that the hotel was also not equipped with a fire alarm.
According to BBC news sources, the Philippines has a pretty poor fire safety record. Building owners begin to ignore the regulations, and they usually pay off regulatory officials when they come to inspect buildings.
It is not yet clear whether or not the management of the Quezon City Manor Hotel did just that.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but government officials are acting swiftly to find out exactly what happened.
"The issuance of the building permit and the business permit is through the local government unit," said Government Minister Joe Lina. "I've ordered the relief of the fire marshall to pave the way for an impartial investigation."
To date, this is the second worst fire in the nation's history. The worst was in March 1996, when at least 160 people, mostly teenagers, were killed in a Manila discotheque, also in the Quezon City district.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
August 19, 2001, AP - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Philippine officials prepare criminal charges against hotel owner after deadly fire, by Jim Gomez,
MANILA, Philippines {AP} — Officials said Sunday they were preparing criminal charges in connection with the Philippines' deadliest hotel fire, claiming safety violations contributed to the deaths of 72 people, most from smoke inhalation.
Photos
Most of the victims at the six-story Manor Hotel in suburban Manila were attending a religious conference sponsored by a U.S.-based evangelical group. Nearly all died of smoke inhalation or suffocation. The fire was detected shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday, and many victims were found piled atop each other in bathrooms after fleeing smoke in the corridors and bars on their windows.
The Bureau of Fire Protection has formed a special team to investigate the blaze in a crowded neighborhood in Manila's Quezon city district and gather evidence against owner William Genato, who was being sought for questioning.
"I pity those people who were trapped in there," Romeo Villafuerte, head of the investigating team, told The Associated Press. "That building was really a firetrap."
Inspectors discovered a year ago that the hotel had no emergency alarms, properly functioning firefighting equipment or adequate escape routes. They notified the owner to make corrections, Villafuerte said, adding that a check after the fire showed the deficiencies hadn't been corrected.
Villafuerte said he could file the charges against Genato as early as Monday. The investigation also could implicate government officials who allowed the hotel to operate despite its defects, he said.
Firefighters frantically cut through the white ornate burglar bars on the hotel windows to rescue 18 people, and two jumped to safety.
A short-circuit in the ceiling of a third-floor stockroom sparked the blaze, Villafuerte said. Thick smoke spread quickly through the stairways and ventilation shaft and accumulated in the upper floors, where most of the victims were sleeping.
The hotel's power was cut during the fire. Without emergency lights in the smoke-filled corridors, the victims apparently panicked in their rooms, where they were later overwhelmed and killed by the smoke. Nobody used the fire exits, Villafuerte said.
The concrete structure was apparently built in the late 1970s and may have previously been damaged by fire, local officials said. It was apparently not originally designed as a hotel — there were no windows in the rear — and had some permanent occupants.
It was the Philippines' worst fire since a 1996 discotheque blaze killed 160 people.
Most of the victims from Saturday's blaze had been attending a nearby evangelical Christian conference run by the Irving, Texas Don Clowers Ministries.
The hotel had 236 registered guests — 172 taking part in the Christian crusade. Several Americans came for the "Destiny Conference," but no foreigners were believed to be among the casualties.
Officials said 15 bodies, nine belonging to women, remained unidentified.
"The common denominator among those who were left behind really was adverse shock and disbelief," said Joseph Bacareza, a Bureau of Fire Protection doctor who supervised the identification of the remains.
A throng of residents living near the hotel prayed for the victims during a Mass in front of the building Sunday. A priest lit candles at its doorsteps.
Outside, motorists slowed to a stop to gaze at the building, which showed no outward sign of the tragedy except for the sawed-off iron bars, with bits of denim trousers hanging from one.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
The Quezon City police filed criminal charges yesterday against eight more officials of the Manor Hotel where a fire killed 73 people and injured 51 others last week.
The charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple deaths and injuries now cover the entire management of Manor, including its incorporators.
Among those charged was Rebecca Genato, the hotel's president and wife of the owner. Her husband, William Genato, was charged with the same crime early this week.
Others charged were Forferio Germina, Marion Fernandez, Dionisia Cua Arengino, Antonio Beltran, Candelaria Aranador, Ofelia Alberto and Alma Santos, all incorporators of the hotel.
If found guilty, they face a maximum of six years in prison and possible fines and payment of compensation to victims.
Hotel owner Genato did not show up in yesterday's preliminary investigation of the case at the Quezon City Prosecutors Office. He instead sent his lawyers to face probers from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and some relatives of the victims.
Assistant City Prosecutor Alfredo Agcaoili hence reset the preliminary probe to next week, noting that the evidence submitted by the BFP were still incomplete. He gave the probers until Aug. 29 to come up with more documents to support their case.
Meanwhile, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte said the police also plan to charge at least six government officials next week on accusations relating to negligence in fire and safety inspections.
Nine city officials, including the fire marshal, have already been relieved from their post.
Belmonte said the tragedy could have been prevented had city officials strictly implemented fire regulations before issuing permits for the hotel to operate.
Most of those killed in the Aug. 18 blaze succumbed to smoke inhalation after they were trapped between a searing, smoky corridor and the ornate, white iron grills on the hotel room windows.
Fire officials said a short-circuit in the ceiling of a third-floor karaoke bar sparked the blaze. Thick smoke spread quickly through the stairways and ventilation shaft, and accumulated in the upper floors where most of the victims were sleeping.
The budget hotel was packed with people attending an evangelical Christian conference at the Araneta Coliseum in nearby Cubao run by the Texas-based Don Clowers Ministries.
Authorities said the hotel's fire escapes led to dead ends and that the six-story building had no sprinkler system, emergency lights, or fire alarm. They also stressed that the fire exits were blocked or locked and that the fire hose cabinet contained no hose.
Manor president Rebecca Genato denied most of these claims, saying her hotel was prepared for fires.
The hotel's business permit expired in June and was not renewed after it was found to be stealing electricity through illegal "jumpers." The hotel was also found to be violating fire regulations as early as August last year.
____________________________________________________________________________
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