DZIQ: 10 killed from fall in Makati construction site

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 6) At least 10 workers, not 11 as posted, were killed at a construction site in Makati City when an electric gondola carrying them broke and sent them plummeting from the 28th floor to the 7th floor, according to a report on Radyo Inquirer.

Another victim has been revived but was in critical condition, the report said.

Ten were brought initially to the Ospital ng Makati in Malugay but one was transferred at the Osmak in Pembo following the 11:45 a.m. accident at the 39-story Eton Residences construction site at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Gallardo Street, it said. Another was brought to the Makati Medical Center.

The victims, who were installing glass panels, were aboard a gondola that could hold only two passengers, said Senior Fire Officer 2 Gerzon Moncada, an investigator from the Bureau of Fire.

Investigators surmised the cables broke or the motor malfunctioned.

The construction company is CE Construction.

The Philippine National Red Cross, quoting the Makati Police Safety Assistance (Mapsa), identified the victims as Joel Abecilla, Celso Mabuting, Michael Tatlong Hari, Kevin Mabunga, Bonbon Cristobal, Rowel Perez, Vicente Piñion, William Ibañez, Jay K Legada and Jeffrey Diocado, Rommel Perez.

Rowel Perez survived the accident.

All bodies were retrieved by 1 p.m., Moncada said.

Denny Villanueva, a company driver employed at the neighboring building, said he saw the gondola plummeting.

“It dropped so fast. It was carrying around eight people. Maybe the other victims were only hit as it passed, or were crushed under. It was their break time: they were probably hitching a ride to go down for lunch,” he said.

Another witness, food stall attendant Mary Ann Centro, said the crash of the gondola was so loud she thought the building had collapsed.

“People were pointing and shrieking. When I looked out the stall, I saw two bodies hanging” from the debris catcher net.

Six bodies were caught in the net. Two victims fell to the floor underneath. Three were found on the 8th floor, retriever FO1 Jomar Jumawan said.

The red gondola, a kind of elevator used at construction sites, was still hanging open on the 7th floor.

The victims had fractured limbs, bloodied heads, Jumawan said.

Only one was found conscious.

For the report, listen to Radyo Inquirer, DZIQ 990. –Tina Santos, Jaymee T. Gamil, INQUIRER.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer