Falling concrete from old building in Manila hurts 1

A 43-year old tuktuk rider was injured after being hit by falling concrete from an old building in Manila.

According to a 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz on Wednesday, victim Miguel Gonzales was passing by an old building along Avenida and Recto Avenue when a broken piece of concrete hit his head at around 1 p.m.

“Malakas po [ang tunog]... Kala ko nga banggaan, tapos pagtingin namin bumagsak po pala ang ano ng building,” said witness Analiza Enverga.

([The sound] was so loud… I thought it was a crash, and when we looked, it turned out that [concrete] fell from the building.)

Gonzales was rushed to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for treatment.

Barangay 313 Manila chairman Eddie Jasmin shared the victim is now conscious.

“Kausap ko na po ang nanay, si Susan… Conscious naman po ang anak niya. ‘Yun lang maraming gagawin sa kanya kaya siguro tutulungan na rin po natin sa barangay,” Jasmin said.

(I talked to Susan, his mother… She said her son was already conscious. It just so happens that a lot of things need to be done for him so I guess the barangay will help him.)

Meanwhile, local authorities and the City Engineering Office have ordered the temporary closure of a portion of Recto Avenue near the corner of Avenida Street as a precaution.

According to authorities, the building has been unoccupied for the past six years.

“For investigation lang daw po… After niyan, gagawan na nila ng safety remedy muna,” Jasmin said.

(They said it was only for investigation… After that, they will conduct safety remedies first.) —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News