Filipino woman saves dogs from factory fire before escaping herself

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A woman trapped on the third floor of a burning building in the Philippines rescued her two dogs before escaping herself, in a dramatic scene captured on video that has gone viral on social media.

The fire broke out at a plastic factory in Mandaue City, Cebu, on Wednesday morning. Footage shows the woman on a balcony with flames and smoke billowing behind her.

Despite calls from rescuers below to evacuate immediately, she first lifted a yellow dog and then a white dog over the balcony railing, dropping them into the waiting arms of firefighters and bystanders.

Only after ensuring her pets' safety did she attempt her own escape. A ladder was brought but proved too short. She then climbed over the railing, held onto a handrail, lowered herself to the second floor and reached a fire escape ladder with firefighters' assistance.

By the time she descended, flames were erupting more fiercely from the building's windows.

The video, shared widely online with over 13,000 reposts, drew praise from netizens who commended her love for her pets overcoming fear of the fire. Some also called for better-equipped fire services with longer ladders for multi-storey rescues.

Firefighters said the blaze started around 7am and caused an estimated two million pesos (HK$263,000) in property damage. No fatalities were reported.