No explosion in Makati condo incident —police

Makati City Police on Thursday said there was no explosion when a part of the Jazz Residences building collapsed earlier in the day.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Makati City Police chief Colonel Rogelio Simon said authorities have not found traces that would point to an explosion.

“Walang nakitang traces nang pagsabog. Siguro ‘yung sinasabi ng mga residente ay yung sounds ng debris at wall na bumagsak,” Simon said.

In a separate interview earlier in the day, Makati Mayor Abby Binay said a bomb squad was deployed to the area after initial report stated that an explosion was heard by residents at the time of the incident.

Around 11 a.m., a part of Jazz Residences, a commercial-residential building by SM Development Corporation (SMDC), collapsed at Nicanor Garcia Street in Barangay Bel-Air Village. The debris fell off a driveway, damaging some vehicles.

Binay said the building was relatively new.

No one was hurt in the incident, officials said.

Simon said the management of the building ordered all residents to leave the building for the meantime.

Authorities were still assessing if it is already safe for residents to return to Tower D, the affected tower, as of posting time. The building has four towers. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News