Store’s roof falls, hurts two

The extended roof or steel awning of Jacky’s Fashion Wear along Manalili Street collapses. Two passersby were hurt in the accident.
(CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

A 53-year-old mother and her 10-year-old daughter landed in the hospital after the extended roof of a ready-to-wear (RTW) outlet fell on them in Manalili St., Cebu City  yesterday morning.

Cynthia Andrada and her daughter Shan Fernan passed by Jacky’s Fashion Wear store when the incident happened.

Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak said Andrada suffered from chest pain while Shan may have broken her leg.

Tumulak also confirmed that store owner Jacky Ki will pay the hospital bills of the victims who are admitted at Chong Hua Hospital.

He said the roof may have fallen due to the weak metal support.

Cracks

Lilia Cubacub, a sidewalk vendor, said she heard a loud crack from the store and saw the roof fall on the mother and her daughter.

“The mother sustained a cut on her arm while her daughter was half covered with the extended roof,” she said.

She then asked the store employees for help in sending the victims to the hospital.

Rachelle Yucot, a 22-year-old store employee, also heard cracks before the incident.

When the extended roof or awning fell, everyone panicked.

“We didn’t know what to do. We ran inside the building. I also thought that the building would also collapse,” said Yucot, who’s been employed in the store for five months.

Yucot said the owner is only renting the building.

Tumulak said he will ask the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to inspect the building today.

“We will also include other buildings during the inspection. What happened at Manalili is an eye-opener,” Tumulak said.

He also urged other owners to inspect the stability of the building especially those who have signages, billboards and other metal frames in order to prevent accidents.