At least 38 people were trapped inside the mall,[2] mostly employees of the market research firm Survey Sampling International (SSI).

[3][4] The probable cause of the fire was faulty electrical wiring due to malpractice of the renovation of the mall's third floor.

It was operated by the New City Commercial Corporation, which was owned by Chinese businessman Lim Tian Siu and his family.

At that time, the establishments were still closed to the public, except for the grocery store and the SSI office (located at the fourth floor, above where the fire started).

At this time, it was reported that 37 people were still trapped inside the building (later clarified to be 38), all of whom except for one were employees of the market research firm Survey Sampling International.

[1] On the morning of Christmas Eve, December 24, after receiving updates from members of the rescue units on the condition of the fire, President Duterte announced that those trapped inside the mall had a "zero chance of survival."

[15] On December 28, 2017, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced that the government would provide ₱30 million worth of assistance to those affected by the incident.

Bello detailed that the relatives of the victims would receive ₱20,000 from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), along with the Occupational Safety and Health Center and the Employees' Compensation Commission (ECC).

Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III tasked the DOLE's regional office to determine whether the mall management violated any occupational safety and health standards.

[21] BFP director Wilberto Kwan Tiu said that all 38 victims trapped inside the mall died of suffocation due to the release of toxic chemicals such as hydrogen cyanide (which was produced by the carpets and plastics) and carbon monoxide by the fire.

NCCC's spokesperson Thea Padua said that the mall was inspected by fire officials annually in order to renew its business permit.

[12] On December 29, 2017, the IAATF deduced that the mall's emergency exits, which were inside the building, failed to meet certain requirements.

IAATF investigator Jerry Candido said that the law requires interior emergency exits to be enclosed in order to prevent the entry of smoke.

The IAATF also discovered that the fire alarm system at the SSI office was defective, compatible to allegations made by some survivors which the NCCC management had denied.

On the evening of December 23, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte paid an unannounced visit to the families of the victims trapped inside the mall.

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) called on the DOLE, as well as the BFP and local government officials, to explain the fire.

The IOHSD also advocated for the creation of new laws that would penalize companies that violate occupational safety and health standards, which BIEN expressed support for.

[14] The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) believed that a "routine and objective" inspection of the mall by the DOLE could have reduced the impact of such fire to property.

The ALU-TUCP also criticized the management of SSI, the firm that employed 37 of the 38 victims, for failing to comply with the labor inspection standards on fire protection.

[28] On December 27, 2017, Mayor Duterte announced that representatives from the Chinese government would visit Davao City to provide assistance to the families of the victims.

[30] The Bureau of Fire Protection assessed the entire building of the NCCC Mall Davao was totally damaged, except for the ground floor.

NCCC management applied for demolition on February 2, 2018, and commenced on May 19 of the same year after the building had been vacated and all utility lines such as electric, gas, telephone and water installations had been disconnected.