Building partially collapses in Philippines: 2 people injured

Fortunately, no fatalities were reported after a wall of a mixed-use building in the Philippines suddenly gave way.

The SM Jazz Mall building is located in the city of Makati in Metro Manila, Philippines. The structure accommodates a shopping mall, apartments, restaurants and some service stores. 

On April 30, 2020, a wall located in the parking area of the building collapsed damaging 3 cars and causing, at least, 2 injuries. According to reports, the people affected were the drivers of the vehicles. One of them suffered minor injuries but the other one was hospitalized.

Following the failure, the residences of the building were evacuated.

According to SM Development Corporation (SMDC), owner of the property, an investigation to derive the causes of the collapse is underway. "We are relieved to report that, apart from two people who sustained minor abrasions, there were no casualties resulting from this event. The cause of the incident is under investigation and we will take whatever measures necessary to address the situation and avoid any recurrence,” SMDC, stated.

One resident mentioned hearing cracking noises in the building some days before the collapse. He also described the moment of the structural failure. "...when we arrived at the unit, we heard noises again and after that a sound of an explosion. But not like that of a bomb," he said.

Abby Binay, the Major of Makari, stated that there was indeed a report about a potential explosion that occurred before the failure. Nevertheless, Joseph Richard Sajulga, a Fire Inspector for the Makati City Fire Department, explained that this statement should be confirmed as the sound could have been caused by the falling debris of the wall, following the failure. In any case, a team of bomb disposal technicians was summoned at the scene and found no signs of explosive devices.

Structural engineers were also deployed to assess the integrity of the building. After a thorough evaluation, it was found that the building remains unharmed and it is safe for occupancy. “It was concluded that the incident does not affect the structural integrity of the development and that the buildings are safe for occupancy,” SMDC said in a statement. The occupants were allowed to return to their residences. 

Several structural failures have been reported in the past in the city of Makati. In 2016, a construction crane gave way impacting an electric pole which fell on 2 vehicles injuring at least 2 people. Back in 2011, a cable transport cabin crumbled into a building under construction killing 10 laborers in the Central Business District of Makati.