Man burns self, 36 die of suffocation at Resorts World

AUTHORITIES yesterday confirmed that around 36 bodies were found at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City apparently due to suffocation after a man set on fire gaming tables including himself early Friday.

National Capital Region police chief Oscar Albayalde said the victims likely suffocated from the thick smoke as the lone gunman burned himself to death inside Room 510 of the luxury casino hotel. This brought the number of people who died there to 37, including the gunman.

Chief Supt. Tomas Apolinario, Southern Police District (SPD) director, said the victims, mostly women, were found at the second floor of the casino area. He said the deaths were not from gunshot wounds, adding that the incident was caused by a lone gunman attempting to rob the casino establishment.

In the first hours on Friday, the gunman fired shots, set on fire gaming tables and was later found burned beyond recognition in one of the hotel rooms.

“Fire concentrated in the casino area in second floor. I think the victims panicked and died due to suffocation and the stampede,” Apolinario said.

Meanwhile, around 54 people injured in the incident were sent to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Malacañang stressed that the incident was not terrorismelated but a criminal act carried out by an emotionally disturbed individual.

At a Palace briefing, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said, “All indications point to a criminal act by an apparently emotionally disturbed individual. Although the perpetrator gave warning shots, there apparently was no indication that he wanted to harm or shoot anyone.”

“All the deceased died due to suffocation at the second floor gaming area which had been set on fire by the perpetrator who eventually committed suicide in the fifth floor of the Maxims Hotel where he set himself on fire and then shot himself,“ Abella said.

“The only other individual who sustained a gunshot wound was the security guard who accidentally shot himself,” he added. (pna)