4 workers hurt in SM mall construction accident in General Santos City

GENERAL SANTOS City, Philippines—Four construction workers were reported injured when the third floor of the SM City being built here collapsed while the workers were loading cement early Sunday morning.

Records of the Bula Police Station identified the victims as Henry Gallaza, 35, from Isabela province; Cesar John Rense and Allan Salkoretes, both from Surallah town, South Cotabato; and a certain Rogelio Buban.

All the four victims are currently confined in a hospital here for treatment.

In a radio interview, Gallaza said a portion of the third floor collapsed when the workers loaded wet cement.

Gallaza added that it crashed down up to the second floor pinning the workers below.

The construction of SM City here, the biggest among the SM branches in Mindanao, is ongoing and the management is targeting to open the department store by December.

In a press conference hastily called by SM here Sunday afternoon, it clarified that only four workers were injured in the accident around 4 a.m. Sunday.