1 dead, 12 hurt in Oktoberfest mishap

One worker was killed while 12 others were hurt yesterday morning when a live wire hit a row of tents they were dismantling after Friday night’s “Oktoberfest” street party in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City.

Rommel Antinero, head of the Pasig City rescue team that was first to respond to the emergency, said the 13 workers were clearing some tents on San Miguel Avenue at around 8:30 a.m., when two of them carried a steel truss that accidentally touched a live wire, electrocuting them all.

The lone fatality, still unidentified, was one of the two who carried the steel truss. The other one was among three workers in serious condition at the Medical City Medical Center, where all 13 workers were rushed after the accident. The police have yet to identify the victims as of press time yesterday.

The tents dismantled by the workers were erected for the Friday night street party organized by food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. to launch a series of street parties leading up to the Oktoberfest next month.

The Friday night party included an attempt at posting a record in the Guiness Book of World Records for the most number of people to toast over beer and the world’s longest beer bar. – Rainier Allan Ronda