2 men die in accident at construction site

Two men died after a mechanical gondola collapsed at a construction site at the South Road Properties in Cebu City Tuesday, September 21, 2021.

A certain Richard Dabasol, 38, died at the site while his companion, Junel Tundaan, 28, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

Major Dindo Alaras, chief of the Mambaling Police Station, said the incident happened around 9:30 a.m. based on the report of the safety officer but the station received the information only about two hours later.

Councilor David Tumulak said Tundaan, a steel man, was on board the gondola when it collapsed and fell from the 19th floor while Dabasol was on the ground.

"Ang gondola, mura ni sya’g elevator nga kargahan sa nga empleyado didto unya gibutangan man diay ni’g mga construction materials maong nabug-atan, nahagsa kaning gondola gikan sa 19th floor," said Councilor David Tumulak.

The two men did not make it to the hospital alive.

Tumulak said there is a possibility that the gondola exceeded the weight capacity, considering it was carrying Tundaan and construction materials.

“Nabug-atan gyud to sya maong nibigay, nya nadrop ning Gondola gikan sa 19th floor hangtod sa ground," Tumulak said.

Because of the incident, the city’s Office of the Building Official (OBO) recommended a temporary stoppage of work at the site.

“Ang rekomendasyon sa OBO, temporarily stop ang trabaho… Right now, wala na’y trabaho didto kay temporaryo usang gihunong,” Tumulak said.

The two contractors of the project have been directed to submit an incident report to the city as investigation into the incident starts.

Based on initial information from OBO, the contractors secured a permit for the installation of the gondola but did not have a permit to operate such.

“Maglukat man sila og laing permit supposedly ana sa operation,” Tumulak said.

Meanwhile, Alaras said that the public should call authorities first if incidents similar to what happened occur in their areas – taking into account the length of time it took for someone to inform the police station about the incident.

"Supposed to be dapat mutawag sila diretso sa station jung naay mga panghitabo nga ingon ana," he said.