Rescuers and village officials stand in front of a burnt residential building after it was engulfed in a fire in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, August 31, 2023. REUTERS/ Lorenzo Lesaba

MANILA (Reuters) – A fire at a property used as a residence and warehouse killed 16 people and injured three in the Philippine capital on Thursday, fire authorities said.

It was not yet known what caused the fire, which started at dawn and engulfed the two-storey building used as a warehouse and workers’ housing for a T-shirt printing business.

Three people survived by jumping from the second floor, Bureau of Fire Protection spokesperson Douglas Guiyab told DZRH radio station.

The Philippines has a patchy record in enforcing fire safety regulations in buildings, residences and offices.

In 2017, a fire at a shopping mall in southern Davao City killed 37 call centre agents and a security officer. In May, a massive fire engulfed Manila’s historic Central Post Office building.