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ULTRA STAMPEDE RUNNING ACCOUNT Noontime show organizers held presscon
Noontime show organizers held presscon MANILA (7:25 p.m.) -- ABS-CBN executives and organizers of the noontime show Wowowee answered questions in a press conference related to the stampede that occured early Saturday morning. Wowowee was supposed to celebrate its first year anniversary at Ultra. Among those in attendance were ABS-CBN chairman and chief executive officer Eugenio Lopez III and executive vice president for entertainment Charo Santos-Concio. They addressed issues raised by reporters on security measures taken in preparation for the show's anniversary. The station's management insisted they took the necessary precautions in anticipation of an unruly crowd. Meanwhile, Concio said they have yet to decide on plans for the noontime show. She added that management is going to announce their decision within a week. ABS-CBN assured assistance and support to families of the victims. (Sunnex) Post your comment on the stampede incident
Manila stampede death toll rises to 88 MANILA (Updated 5:10 p.m.) -- A stampede broke out early Saturday outside a stadium near Manila where thousands had lined up to watch a popular game show, killing at least 88 people and injuring 280 others, officials said. Philippine Red Cross chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said at least 88 people were confirmed dead and 280 others were hospitalized. "Stampede comments". Post your comments on the Manila stampede incident here. Gordon blamed poor organization of the event for the tragedy. "If you predict that there's going to be a huge crowd, you should be ready with ambulances and communications," he said. "You should plan for the worst. We have a lot of people who wanted to help but could not get in immediately." About 30,000 people were waiting to get inside the stadium for the program "Wowowee" when the mayhem erupted, said Vicente Eusebio, the mayor of Pasig, the Manila suburb where the stampede occurred. The mayor said the melee erupted as the crowd pushed and surged toward the gates, thinking they were open, pinning and trampling those in front. One survivor said some people in the crowd became rowdy when they could not enter. "The gates were being partially opened then shut," said Myrna Britania, 42, who spoke at a hospital where the injured were being treated. "The raffle tickets can be obtained at the gate so everyone was in a hurry. There was pushing and people in front of the gate were crushed." Britania, who had spent all night in line, said "people at the back of the line were pushing not knowing there were already people dead lying on the ground in front." Eusebio and police denied reports that the stampede was caused by a bomb scare. (Sunnex)
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Stampede death toll rises to 79 MANILA (Updated 1:25 p.m.) -- Seventy-nine persons, most of them elderly women, were killed when a stampede marred the 1st anniversary of the ABS-CBN noontime television game show "Wowowee" at the Philippine Sports Commission (Philsports) formerly Ultra stadium in Pasig City early Saturday. Vice President Noli de Castro said in a press conference that they have counted 79 fatalities in the tragedy and more than 100 people hurt. (Sunnex) Post your comment on the stampede incident
Stampede kills 61 in noontime TV show anniversary MANILA (5th Update, 11:56 a.m.) --“ Sixty-one persons, most of them elderly women, were killed while 28 others were reported injured when a stampede marred the 1st anniversary of the ABS-CBN noontime television game show "Wowowee" at the Philippine Sports Commission (Philsports) formerly Ultra stadium in Pasig City. Most of the fatalities suffocated or were trampled upon when they fell at the height of the rush, which occurred at 7 a.m. Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and who helped in crowd control operations, said 28 people were injured. Two versions as to what caused the stampede have cropped up. One was that a prankster reportedly shouted that there was a bomb, prompting the people to scamper in different directions while another was that the crowd tried to force their way into the Ultra. Police are investigating the tragedy. Air Force trucks arrived at the site of the incident to bring the bodies of the fatalities to Medical City and Rizal Medical Center, both in Pasig City, for identification and then to Arlington Funeral Homes. Those hurt were brought also to the Rizal Medical Center for treatment. People have began camping outside the sports arena as early as last Thursday yet in the hope of being able to join the game show, which has put up P2 million as prize at stake. ABS-CBN vice president for entertainment Charo Santos-Concio said the management condoles with the kin of the fatalities and extends comfort to those injured. She also said the ABS-CBN management will take care of the funeral and medical expenses of the casualties and of those hurt in the stampede. Concio said “Wowowee” anniversary will be called off because of the incident because “it would be insensitive” for the broadcast network to push through with the show after the tragedy. Concio said the television network will devote its resources and programs for public service for the wounded and casualties. She appealed for assistance in whatever kind and prayers for the victims of the stampede. "Wowowee" host Willie Revillame was shocked by the incident. In an ABS-CBN interview, an emotional Revillame said he didn’t expect it to happen. "All we ever wanted was just to make them happy," a sobbing Revillame said in Tagalog. He appealed to those who will go to the Ultra to forego with their plan because the venue is already overcrowded. Vice President Noli de Castro, a close friend of Revillame, rushed to the Ultra to comfort the injured and oversee crowd control operations. De Castro vowed a thorough investigation of the incident and prosecution of those liable. Incoming Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor also went to the Ultra to see what the government can do to assist the victims and assess the situation in the venue. (Sunnex) Post your comment on the stampede incident
28 wounded in TV show anniversary stampede MANILA (4th Update, 11:10 a.m.) -- Sixty one persons, most of them elderly, were killed while 28 others were reported injured when a stampede marred the 1st anniversary of the ABS-CBN noontime television game show "Wowowee" at the Ultra stadium in Pasig City. Most of the fatalities suffocated or were trampled upon when they fell at the height of the rush, which occurred at 7 a.m. Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), who helped in crowd control operations, said 28 people were injured. About 30,000 people waiting to get inside the stadium to watch a popular game show organized by a TV channel when the mayhem erupted, said Vicente Eusebio, the mayor of Pasig, a Manila suburb where the stampede occurred. Lito Vergel de Dios, executive director of Metro Manila Development Authority, put the initial death toll at 54. He told a Manila radio station that one witness said somebody in the crowd shouted there was a bomb. But there was no sign of any explosion. Other witness accounts carried by Manila radio said the stampede erupted when guards refused to open the gates to the stadium, causing pushing and shoving among the crowd. Merquieades Salazar cried over the body of his wife, who was among those crushed. Salazar, 45, said the couple was jobless and wanted to try their luck at winning a raffle with a jackpot equivalent to P20,000. "In the desire to win money, she is the one I lost," Merquieades sobbed as he stroke his dead wife's hair. Two versions as to what caused the stampede have cropped up. One was that a prankster reportedly shouted that there was a bomb, prompting the people to scamper in different directions while another was that the crowd tried to force their way into the Ultra. Police are investigating the tragedy. Air Force trucks arrived at the site of the incident to bring the bodies of the fatalities to Medical City in Pasig City for identification and then to Arlington Funeral Homes. People have began camping outside the sports arena as early as last Thursday in the hope of being able to join the game show, which has put up P2 million as prize at stake. The ABS-CBN management and the Movie and Television Regulatory and Classification Board (MTRCB) were still discussing as of 10 a.m. as whether or not to push through with the show. "Wowowee" host Willie Revillame was shocked by the incident. In an ABS-CBN interview, an emotional Revillame said he didn’t expect it to happen. "All we ever wanted was just to make them happy," a sobbing Revillame said in Tagalog. He appealed to those who will go to the Ultra to forego with their plan because the venue is already overcrowded. Vice President Noli de Castro, a close friend of Revillame, rushed to the Ultra to comfort the injured and oversee crowd control operations. The management of ABS-CBN will shoulder the funeral expenses of those who died in the stampede and hospital bill for those who were injured.(Sunnex) Post your comment on the stampede incident
Stampede kills 60 spectators of noontime TV show MANILA (3rd Update, 10:55 a.m.) -- Sixty persons, most of them elderly, were killed when a stampede marred the 1st anniversary of the ABS-CBN noontime television game show "Wowowee" at the Ultra stadium in Pasig City. Most of the fatalities suffocated or were trampled upon when they fell at the height of the rush, which occurred at 7 a.m. The number of those injured was still undetermined. About 30,000 people waiting to get inside the stadium to watch a popular game show organized by a TV channel when the mayhem erupted, said Vicente Eusebio, the mayor of Pasig, a Manila suburb where the stampede occurred. Lito Vergel de Dios, executive director of Metro Manila Development Authority, put the initial death toll at 54. He told a Manila radio station that one witness said somebody in the crowd shouted there was a bomb. But there was no sign of any explosion. Other witness accounts carried by Manila radio said the stampede erupted when guards refused to open the gates to the stadium, causing pushing and shoving among the crowd. Merquieades Salazar cried over the body of his wife, who was among those crushed. Salazar, 45, said the couple was jobless and wanted to try their luck at winning a raffle with a jackpot equivalent to P20,000. "In the desire to win money, she is the one I lost," Merquieades sobbed as he stroke his dead wife's hair. Two versions as to what caused the stampede have cropped up. One was that a prankster reportedly shouted that there was a bomb, prompting the people to scamper in different directions while another was that the crowd tried to force their way into the Ultra. Police are investigating the tragedy. Air Force trucks arrived at the site of the incident to bring the bodies of the fatalities to Medical City in Pasig City for identification and then to Arlington Funeral Homes. People have began camping outside the sports arena as early as last Thursday in the hope of being able to join the game show, which has put up P2 million as prize at stake. The ABS-CBN management and the Movie and Television Regulatory and Classification Board (MTRCB) were still discussing as of 10 a.m. as whether or not to push through with the show. "Wowowee" host Willie Revillame was shocked by the incident. In an ABS-CBN interview, an emotional Revillame said he didn’t expect it to happen. "All we ever wanted was just to make them happy," a sobbing Revillame said in Tagalog. He appealed to those who will go to the Ultra to forego with their plan because the venue is already overcrowded. Vice President Noli de Castro, a close friend of Revillame, rushed to the Ultra to comfort the injured and oversee crowd control operations. The management of ABS-CBN will shoulder the funeral expenses of those who died in the stampede and hospital bill for those who were injured. (Sunnex) Post your comment on the stampede incident
60 people die in stampede at anniversary of ABS-CBN program MANILA (Updated 10:36 a.m.) -- Sixty persons, most of them elderly, were killed when a stampede marred the 1st anniversary of the ABS-CBN noontime television game show "Wowowee" at the Ultra stadium in Pasig City. Most of the fatalities suffocated or were trampled upon when they fell at the height of the rush, which occurred at 7 a.m. The number of those injured was still undetermined. Two versions as to what caused the stampede have cropped up. One was that a prankster reportedly shouted that there was a bomb, prompting the people to scamper in different directions while another was that the crowd tried to force their way into the Ultra. Police are investigating the tragedy. Air Force trucks arrived at the site of the incident to bring the bodies of the fatalities to Medical City in Pasig City for identification and then to Arlington Funeral Homes. People have began camping outside the sports arena as early as last Thursday in the hope of being able to join the game show, which has put up P2 million as prize at stake. The ABS-CBN management and the Movie and Television Regulatory and Classification Board (MTRCB) were still discussing as of 10 a.m. as whether or not to push through with the show. "Wowowee" host Willie Revillame was shocked by the incident. In an ABS-CBN interview, an emotional Revillame said he didn't expect it to happen. "All we ever wanted was just to make them happy," a sobbing Revillame said in Tagalog. He appealed to those who will go to the Ultra to forego with their plan because the venue is already overcrowded. Vice President Noli de Castro, a close friend of Revillame, rushed to the Ultra to comfort the injured and oversee crowd control operations. (Sunnex) Post your comment on the stampede incident
Stampede occurs during noontime show's 1st year celebration (10:04 a.m.) MANILA -- A stampede marred the anniversary of the ABS-CBN noontime television game show "Wowowee" at the Ultra stadium in Pasig City with initial reports saying that 60 have died in the incident. Most of the fatalities were elderly people who got trampled upon when they fell at the height of the stampede, which occurred at 7 a.m. Two versions as to what caused the stampede have cropped up. One was that a prankster reportedly shouted that there was a bomb, prompting the people to scamper in different directions while another was that the crowd tried to force their way into the Ultra. People have began camping outside the sports arena as early as last Thursday in the hope of being able to join the game show. The ABS-CBN management and the Movie and Television Regulatory and Classification Board (MTRCB) were still discussing whether to push through with the show. "Wowowee" host Willie Revillame was shocked by the incident. In an ABS-CBN interview, an emotional Revillame said he didnt expect it to happen "All we ever wanted was just to make them happy," a sobbing Revillame said in Tagalog. He appealed to the people who plan to go to the Ultra to watch the program to forego with their plan because the venue is already overcrowded. (Sunnex) |
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