Toppled electric post kills 1, injures 4

One person was killed, while four others, including a five-year-old girl, were hurt when an electric post toppled and landed on them last Thursday afternoon in Tondo, Manila.

Felipe Pangilinan, 18, died at the Metropolitan Hospital due to massive head and body injuries, doctors said.

The four others who were taken to Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center and Santos Medical Clinic have been declared out of danger, according to police. They were identified as Erica Reyes, 5; Rolando Romano, 41; Jimmy Hipolito, 34; and Danilo Ferrer, 43.

Police said the victims were walking near the wooden post at the corner of Perfecto and Malong streets in Tondo when the mishap occurred.

The post, possibly due to wear and tear, suddenly gave way and fell, pinning the victims, police said.

Residents helped pull out the victims from under the post and rushed them to the nearest hospital. The four were treated for abrasions and fractures.

"It happened so quickly. We were shocked when the post leaned on its side and eventually fell," narrated one resident. – Nestor Etolle