MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Sixteen people from the thousands who attended Father Fernando Suarez's healing mass Thursday fainted and were brought to the Mandaluyong Medical Center, paramedics on site said.
Samson Antonio Jr. of the Mandaluyong fire brigade said the 16 suffered from “blackouts” and were all elderly.
Thousands gathered to attend Suarez’s healing mass at the Church of Divine Mercy in Mandaluyong City.
Socorro de Castro, one of the church organizers, had said they expected at least 15,000 people to show up at the healing session.
Church goers spilled into to the streets around the church, prompting the city government of Mandaluyong to open the nearby gymnasium in an effort to accommodate everyone.
Authorities also closed Maysilo circle and advised motorists going to Makati and Shaw Boulevard to avoid the area and use secondary roads instead.
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