Gutted Puregold building in danger of collapse

The Pasay City government ordered the evacuation of families living near the gutted Puregold Plaza building yesterday after local officials said the remaining structure might collapse anytime now.

Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad said at least 30 families, left homeless by the fire that spread from the building to their homes, have already been brought to the Zamora Elementary School, where they will be housed until their shelter problems are properly addressed.

City Engineer Edwin Javaluyas, who inspected the site, said a big portion of the building’s cemented wall and some of the posts are in danger of collapsing and it would not be safe even for tenants to come back and check if there are items they can still recover. 

“As of the moment a demolition of what remained of the building cannot be carried out since probe of the incident is still ongoing. We don’t want to get in the way as pieces of evidence they need might be wiped out,” he said.

Pasay Rescue Chief Alex Acabado said the Barangay 54 gym on Tramo street has also been readied as an evacuation site for other affected families.

Pasay City Fire Marshall Junito Maslang said the fire, which started at around 2:40 a.m., was declared out by 8 p.m. Thursday.

An initial estimate of the damage to property caused by the fire was placed at more than P50 million.