Manila casino death toll rises to 34, gunman commits suicide

The death toll from Friday morning's terror strike at a popular hotel-cum-casino in Philippines capital Manila has gone up to 34, and local police have also confirmed that the lone gunman involved in the attack, has committed suicide.

CNN and The Guardian reported that at least 34 bodies have been brought out of the Resorts World Manila Casino and that the cause of death is said to be suffocation.

Police said that the bodies didn't have gunshot wounds, and many of them were found in the women's bathroom.

Police Superintendent Tomas Apolinario of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Southern Police District, was quoted as saying to local media that, "Most of the victims were women who were found dead inside the bathroom."

Police said that the armed suspect, who is yet to be identified, forced his way into the casino around midnight local time, and started shooting at gambling machines and setting tables on fire.

Video showed panicked guests running for the exits, the sound of gunshots and smoke coming from the upper floors of buildings.

Hours later, police confirmed the gunman had committed suicide by setting himself on fire in one of the hotel guest rooms.

He was found in the room of the fifth floor of the hotel-cum-casino, burned beyond recognition, next to a machine gun and a .380 calibre pistol, CNN reported.

The Resorts World Manila, also known as RWM, is a resort complex in Newport City, a residential and commercial center in metropolitan Manila.

The RWM website describes it as "the first and largest integrated resort in the Philippines" and located opposite the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

It was not immediately clear how many people were hurt in the attack, but the casino said on its Facebook page that 54 persons were being treated in various hospitals post the attack.