The BBC's John McLean: Smoke cleared to show pitiful sights

Many of the children in the orphanage were sleeping when the fire broke out in the early hours of the morning. The blaze spread quickly through the building, trapping many of those inside.

Survivors said several people perished because some of the exits were locked.

It took fire-fighters at least two hours to bring the fire under control. The charred bodies of some of the children were found in a storeroom where they had apparently run in an attempt to avoid the blaze.

The tragedy occurred a day before a local company was due to hold a Christmas party for the children.

Still missing

Distraught relatives were comforted at the scene

Police say at least 43 people managed to escape from the burning building, but several more are still unaccounted for.

Some reports said it appeared that faulty electrical wiring was the cause of the fire in the four-storey building.

President Joseph Estrada promised that his office would rebuild the ruined orphanage.