1 dead, scores hurt as second floor of Bulacan church collapses on Ash Wednesday

One person died while 52 others were injured after the second floor of St. Peter the Apostle Church in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan collapsed on Ash Wednesday.

City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) head Gina Ayson said that the second floor, which is made of wood, collapsed as people lined up for the marking of ashes on their foreheads.

"Medyo marami po talagang tao dahil sabay po kasi siya eh sa pagpila ng pagpapahid ng abo kaya po talagang medyo dumagsa po ang tao," Ayson  said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(There were quite a lot of people because it was at the same time when people were queuing up for the marking of ashes.)

She said the victims suffered minor injuries such as bruises and shoulder pain.

BREAKING NEWS: 1 dead in St. Peter the Apostle Church ash Wednesday tragedy in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, SJDM Mayor Art Robes says.

80-year old Luneta Morales did not survive injuries she sustained when the second floor of the church collapsed this morning during an Ash… pic.twitter.com/xFbl5qkcVt

— Joseph Morong ???????? (@Joseph_Morong) February 14, 2024

The mayor identified the person who died in the incident as 80-year old Luneta Morales, who did not survive the injuries she sustained when the second floor of the church collapsed.

Parish priest Romulo Perez says the second floor was observed to have been infested by termites. 

According to the San Jose del Monte Public Information Office (PIO), part of the second floor collapsed past 7 a.m. Wednesday.

The city's PIO said that as of 9:35 a.m., 44 injured individuals were rushed to different hospitals.

Of this number, 24 were brought to the Ospital ng Lungsod ng San Jose del Monte, nine to the Tala Hospital, five to the Brigino General Hospital, three to the Skyline Hospital, two to Labpro Diagnostic Center, and one to the Grace General Hospital.

The city government will shoulder all of the medical expenses of the victims, according to the city PIO.

It has also ordered the temporary closure of the church pending the assessment of the city engineering and building officials.

Ayson said the church had undergone renovation but the interior of the church and its mezzanine are already old.

One of the victims, Eva San Diego, told Super Radyo dzBB that the collapse was gradual.

Masses have been suspended until further notice, according to the local government. —VDV/VAL/KG, GMA Integrated News