Hotel Fire Kills At Least 25 In Philippines

A blaze killed at least 25 people Saturday in one of the Philippines’ worst hotel fires.

Nine people were injured in the fire at the six-story New Imperial Hotel in Cotabato, 550 miles southeast of Manila, authorities said. The cause was not known, but police have not ruled out arson.

Authorities said the fire started at about 1 a.m. in the prayer room on the third floor, and burned for about four hours.

Many victims suffocated or were burned beyond recognition, Fire Marshall Edzsrapel Dilawangan said. Some were found dead in bathrooms wrapped in wet blankets.