Open manhole claims life of girl, 3

A three-year-old girl died after she reportedly fell into an open manhole in Sampaloc, Manila Monday night, police said yesterday.

Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo, the Manila Police District homicide section head, identified the girl as Sandra Lagrama, a resident of Oroquieta street in Sta. Cruz.

Sandra’s father, Simplicio, said he was putting away his shoe repair tools at around 8:30 p.m. when he noticed that his daughter was missing.

He said he frantically searched for her and found one of her slippers beside an open manhole, located in front of a store along Legarda street.

When he peered into the manhole, he saw his daughter inside. He pulled Sandra out of the manhole and rushed her to the hospital, but she died on the way.                       – Evelyn Macairan