CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna ? Two construction workers were killed and seven others were injured when a scaffolding, on which three layers of metal pipes were also piled up, collapsed and hit the victims at a mall construction site in San Pablo City, Laguna, early Friday.

Instantly killed were Benie Navarette and Edgar Vasquez while Alvin Donor, Christian Ecleo, Alvin Aniscal, Arnold Obsanga, Richard Vasquez, Salvador Mediado, and Jerson Vidal sustained injuries and were recuperating at the Panlalawigang Pagamutan ng Laguna, also in the city.

Superintendent Ferdinand de Castro, San Pablo police chief, said the scaffoling was about five meters above the victims when it snapped and fell at around 3 a.m.

De Castro said several metal pipes of various sizes which he estimated to weigh one ton hit the workers.

The victims were employed by the SLT Construction Company, which is a contractor of the SM mall in Barangay (village) San Rafael.

The police said they had yet to locate the foreman at the construction site or any other representative of the construction company.