Several injured as Laguna mall escalator slides backwards

Several shoppers were injured after an escalator at a mall in Santa Rosa, Laguna suddenly slid backwards and dumped customers at the foot of the escalator.

According to a Tuesday report by GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog's Andrew Bernardo on "24 Oras," several escalator riders held on to the handrail, but others lost their balance and fell.

Among the injured were several children.

“Lahat ng nakasakay sa escalator, nahulog, mga duguan po,” said a bystander.

Mall security guards immediately responded to the incident and assisted the victims.

"Yung anak ko sa Santa Rosa, naaksidente kahapon sa escalator pupuntahan ko kasi naka-confine sila dun,” said a mother of one of the injured children.

According to the mall's management, their emergency response team immediately rushed some of the injured to the hospital.

The area has been secured, and an investigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, City Hall authorities said they would also inspect the escalator. Furthermore, they would make sure that victims received assistance and that incidents like this would not recur. — Sherylin Untalan