Woman dies in freak accident after Tacloban papal Mass

(Updated 10:58 a.m., Jan. 18) TACLOBAN CITY — A 27-year-old woman from Samar died at the airport here Saturday just after the Mass officiated by Pope Francis, the Palo Archdiocese said.

During the Pope's encounter with the youth event at the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday, he called for a moment of silence for Kristel Mae Padasas.

"I would like all of you, young people like her, to offer a moment in silence with me... then we pray to our Lady in heaven," Pope Francis said through an interpreter.

Earlier in an interview with reporters on Saturday, Fr. Amadeo Alvero, Palo Archdiocese' Social Communications Director, confirmed that Padasas died after the scaffoldings of a speaker near the altar fell on her.

"Nahulog dahil sa hangin," he noted, adding that the large crowd that gathered for the event had nothing to do with the incident.

"Pupuntahan ko siya ngayon sa Perpetual Succor para blessan ko," he added, referring to a makeshift hospital at the airport. "We are sorry that this had to happen."

Pope Francis held a Mass at the airport early Saturday morning amid foul weather brought by Tropical Storm Amang. Leyte and six other areas in the Visayas were placed under Storm Signal Number 2 early Saturday morning, hours before the Pope's arrival.

The Mass was open to the public, and among the language used in various parts were English, Filipino, Latin, Binisaya, Cebuano, and Hiligaynon.
 
The foul weather cut short Pope Francis' trip to Leyte. He left around 1 p.m., four hours ahead of the original 5 p.m. schedule.

Pope Francis, who was in the Philippines for a five-day state and apostolic visit, was in Leyte to personally meet survivors of super typhoon Yolanda and other disasters. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News