Dec. 26 (Bloomberg) -- At least 24 people died after a Christmas Day fire in a department store in the southern Philippine city of Ormoc, the ABS-CBN News Web site reported, citing local officials.

The bodies of the victims, including a pregnant woman and two babies, were found in a restroom at the mall, where they ran in panic after the fire started, the Web site of the Philippine broadcaster reported, citing firemen. Another nine people were injured, the report said.

The three-hour fire, which burned down the store, started at a stall selling firecrackers, ABS-CBN said. Ormoc City Mayor Eric Codilla said the store didn't have permission to sell firecrackers, according to the report.

Ormoc is about 350 miles (563 kilometers) southeast of capital Manila.

(ABS-CBN News Web site, 12-26)

Click http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/ for the Web site.

To contact the reporter on this story: Frank Longid in Hong Kong at flongid@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: December 25, 2006 23:42 EST