Death toll in Manila tree collapse rises to 3; Abalos orders probe

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday said the death toll in the collapse of a tree on some houses along Estero de Magdalena at Recto Avenue in Manila has increased to three.

The number of injured people also increased to nine, according to DILG.

Meanwhile, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. directed the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to investigate the incident and give him recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.

“Nagbigay na rin ako ng direktiba sa BFP na imbestigahan ang insidente at inaasahan ko na magsasubmit sila ng report at mga rekomendasyon sa mga susunod na araw,” he said.

(I already gave a directive to the BFP to investigate the incident and I am expecting that they will submit a report and recommendations in the next few days.)

Abalos expressed condolences to the families of the deceased victims.

On Thursday, a huge tree collapsed on houses along Estero de Magdalena on Recto Avenue following days of heavy rains.

According to the Manila government, residents in the area have been waiting for relocation for a long time. But authorities said the pandemic delayed plans to move the residents out of the danger zone.

The eight families affected by the incident are temporarily staying in modular tents on the side of Recto Avenue while the barangay is looking for a safer place. —VAL, GMA Integrated News