Ayala Center Cebu stops theater operation after ceiling collapse

A Cebu City mall has suspended the operations of one of its theaters after a portion of its ceiling collapsed and injured nine people on Monday.

The Ayala Center Cebu indicated the suspension of Cinema 5's operation is voluntary, GMA Cebu's Alan Domingo reported Thursday.

The city government has also given Ayala Center Cebu a week to submit its recommendations on how to prevent a repeat of the incident.

It also ordered a hydro test, flood test, and other tests on the structure to determine the cause of the ceiling collapse.

On Wednesday, city mayor Michael Rama ordered an inspection of movie houses in the city.

Cinema 5 is Ayala Center Cebu's newest cinema.

While mall management initially said the sprinkler system may have caused the collapse, Cebu City councilor Dave Tumulak said their initial findings suggested accumulated water from the air-conditioning system may have caused part of the ceiling to give way. -Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News