Filipino workers killed

Press, 18 November 1981, Page 8

Filipino workers killed

NZPA-Reuter Manila Construction workers at the multi-million Manila film festival centre said that 30 bodies had already been removed from concrete and metal debris after the ceiling of the building’s planned main 'theatre collapsed yesterday. At the accident site on a reclaimed portion of the Manila Bay agonising cries of “help me’’ and “dig us out” could be heard after more than nine hours of rescue work. An unknown number. of people are still believed to be pinned under the debris. It was also learned that this was the second accident in two weeks at the $22 million project which the Government is rushing in time for the opening of Manila’s first film festival in January. Two workers were reported to have been killed last week when part of the sixth floor gave way, workers said.

Official military figures remained at five dead, six identified missing while rescue work continues. No-one could give the exact number of workers on duty when the disaster occurred yesterday morning. Rescue workers used spades to dig into the rubble, visible only from the inside of the multi-storey structure. Rescuers were prevented from using power drills because bodies seemed to be piled one on top of the other. At one point the head of a survivor was uncovered but he could not be pulled out immediately for fear of piercing other bodies which seemed to be coiled around his thighs. Meanwhile contractors ordered work to continue as usual in the parts of the building unaffected by the ceiling crash. The ceiling had crashed into what would have been the main theatre orchestra section in the middle of the building, the first big project of the Filipino architect, Froilan Hong, begun several months ago. Earlier, contractors intimated that they did not think they could, finish the job in time for the January event. But construction was speeded up round-the-clock with fresh funds injected by the Philippines’ First Lady, Imelda Marcos. The Philippines had host to a pre-festival run, titled the “Manila Event” in January in preparation for a bigger bid as the film festival centre of Asia next January. The festival had elicited some controversy because of its big expense which includes a white sanded lagoon area in the reclaimed portion to give the Manila centre the air of Cannes, the film centre of Europe.