AKIPRESS.COM - The death toll in a fire that destroyed a shoe factory in the Philippine capital has risen to 72, officials say.

Police have vowed to take swift action against those responsible, amid workers' claims of poor health and safety standards. "Definitely there will be charges here, because people died," acting national police chief Leonardo Espina said.

Police say the fire started when sparks from welding work ignited flammable chemicals near the building's entrance. The Philippines has lax safety standards and large fires are relatively common, particularly in slum areas.

Wednesday's fire spread quickly and a few people escaped. Many more were trapped on the second floor of the building, where, according to survivors, iron grills on windows prevented their escape.

Most of the victims are thought to have suffocated in thick black smoke from burning rubber and chemicals.

The owner of the factory, which is operated by Kentex Manufacturing and produces rubber flip flops and sandals, said about 200 to 300 people were inside the building at the time of the fire.

The mayor of the Valenzuela district, Rexlon Gatchalian, told the AFP news agency he did not expect the death toll to rise much further, as the number of bodies retrieved matched the number of people missing.

The factory is in the rundown district of Valenzuela in the north of the capital.