AKIPRESS.COM - Dozens of workers are missing after a fire hit a factory in a suburb of the capital, Manila, according to local TV station ABS-CBN.

As of 4:30pm local time (08:00 GMT), the fire has been raging for five hours, and there were fears that workers were trapped and killed inside the rubber-sandal factory.

According to local media reports, the fire was ignited by welding embers coming in contact with chemicals used at the factory.

Survivors told local media that many of the workers were unable to escape because of the heavy smoke blocking the entrance of the factory.

It was unclear if the factory had an emergency fire exit.