Jinboway factory fire guts Subic Bay Freeport facility

A massive fire destroyed a significant portion of the Jinboway Technology Ltd. Corporation factory inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, Philippines. The blaze began late Wednesday night, November 4, between 10:00 p.m. and 10:45 p.m., and burned for nearly eight hours before being brought under control by 5:45 a.m. on Thursday.

The facility, located in Subic Gateway Park Phase II, produces outdoor gear, backpacks, and textiles for international brands. Fire officials reported that stockpiles of plastics, textiles, and synthetic materials fueled the rapid spread of the flames, which also reached several adjoining buildings. Thick black smoke caused near-zero visibility on the Subic Freeport Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

Two people, including one firefighter, reportedly sustained minor injuries, but no fatalities were reported as workers were able to evacuate the site. The incident comes just two months after the company broke ground on a P573-million expansion project intended to add four new manufacturing facilities and approximately 1,000 jobs. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire and the total extent of the damage.