AFP urged to send choppers to rescue trapped hotel guests

Officials of the Great Eastern Hotel on Quezon Avenue, which was engulfed by fire Thursday night, appealed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines to send helicopters in order to rescue several people trapped in the upper floors of the building. GMA Network’s News on Q reported that the blaze, which was tapped in past 8 pm, broke out from the hotel’s stockroom. A woman occupant of the hotel was rushed to hospital due to suffocation. A live footage of the news program showed people on the upper floors waving from the windows apparently to signal for help. The report said hotel occupants could not use emergency exits due to thick smoke. As of 9:55 pm, black smoke was seen billowing out of the seventh floor. - GMANews.TV