80-year old choir member dies in Bulacan church Ash Wednesday tragedy
An 80-year old woman who was serving a member of choir member at the St. Peter Church in City of San Jose del Monte died while the number of injured victims rose to 53 during a collapse its second floor in the middle of Ash Wednesday mass on Wednesday, Feb. 13.
Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the initial report they received was that churchgoers were injured during the incident but later, a report from the local police confirmed the death of an 80-year old woman.
In post in its Facebook page, the City of San Jose del Monte (CSJDM) Public Information Office said the 80-year old woman was identified as Luneta Morales, from Barangay Dela Costa 3.
Fajardo said all the injured victims are now on stablke condition while the CSJDM Public Information Office said that some of the injured victims were already sent home.
“Other victims are still under observation,” the CSJDM Public Information Office’s Facebook post read.
The collapse occurred at around 7:30 a.m. at the church located in Barangay Tungkong Mangga.
According to some witnesses, the mass was interrupted when someone shouted at the second floor of the church and in a few moments, the collapse of the second floor occurred.
Local officials are now conducting assessment of the damage. The church was temporarily closed until a clearance is issued by the local government unit.