Five killed in Subic shipyard accident

(Updated 2:40 p.m.) At least five people were reported killed while eight were seriously injured in an accident where a 42-ton ramp collapsed on workers at a ship repair facility in Subic, Zambales, Friday morning. Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr said the incident occurred at the ship repair facility of the Keppel Subic Shipyard at Barangay Cawag around 10:20 a.m. The victims were not immediately identified, Cruz said. "The steel platform used as bridge going to the MV Tombarra, which is under repair accidentally dropped, which resulted in the death of five persons and severe injuries of eight others." Cruz said the wounded victims are currently receiving treatment at the Our Lady of Lourdes International Hospital in Olongapo City. In an interview on radio dzBB, Subic Mayor Jay Khonghun – citing initial reports reaching him – said: "Bumagsak ang... rampa na may bigat na 42 tons. Pagnabagsakan ka sigurado patay ka... may mga nasugatan... may nabagsakan." He said initial reports reaching him indicated four died while "11 to 12" were injured in the accident. The mayor said the reports indicated the workers there are employees of a subcontractor engaged in ship repairs. But he said details were not immediately available as local government unit personnel were barred from entering the area. Khonghun said the ship repair facility of locator Keppel Group is under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. GMA News Online tried to contact Keppel but a staff member, who declined to give her name, said the firm is not yet ready to comment on the incident. — with Mark Merueñas/LBG, GMA News