1 dies, 54 hurt in Bulacan church collapse on Ash Wednesday
AN 80-year-old female churchgoer yesterday died while 54 others were injured after a portion of a balcony on the second floor of a church collapsed during an Ash Wednesday Mass in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan.
A report to Police Regional Office 3 director Brig. Gen. Jose Hidalgo Jr. by the Bulacan police identified the fatality as Luneta Morales of B8, L3, Phase 1, Dela Costa III, San Jose del Monte City.
Police said the incident happened past 7 a.m. while early mass goers at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Bgy. Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte City lined up for the traditional marking of ashes in their foreheads.
The balcony on the right side portion of the church suddenly collapsed.
It was learned that the second floor of the church is made of wood.
Police immediately requested assistance from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and other agencies.
City fire marshal Chief Insp. Arvin Mamangun said he immediately deployed two fire trucks, along with eight men, to the area to assist other offices and the police.
The injured churchgoers were brought to the Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose Del Monte, Tala Hospital, Brigino General Hospital and nearby Skyline and Grace Hospitals for treatment.
The San Jose del Monte Public Information Office, in a Facebook post, said Mayor Arthur Robes directed all injured churchgoers brought immediately to medical centers for proper medical attention.
Robes also said the city government will cover the medical costs of those who sustained injuries.
Around 400 people were inside the church in observance of Ash Wednesday when the tragedy struck. By Bernard Galang and Joel dela Torre
