3 Pikit pupils hurt as school fence collapses

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Three elementary pupils in Pikit, North Cotabato were hurt when a concrete wall of the public school collapsed on Thursday morning, a disaster officer today said.Tahira Kalantungan, Pikit Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), identified the victims as Al Bashir Dagulos, Norhan Dematingkay and Abdullah Jiasim, grade five pupils of Pikit Central Elementary School (PCES).Kalantungan said the three pupils climb the concrete wall to watch various vehicles passing along the highway near the school premises when the freak accident happened.As the wall collapses, the children fell and the concrete debris fell on them, Kalantongan said.One of the victims were in serious condition as he suffered fractures on his feet. Kalantungan said one of the pupil suffered severe injuries which also caused fractures in his feet. They were rushed to the Cruzado Clinic, Kalantungan added. The concrete wall was substandard since we found out that there were no iron bars in it,” Kalantungan told DXND Radyo Bida. She said theconcrete fence was a project of thegraduates and the Parents-Teachers Community Association (PTCA). Kalantungan said the Pikit local government will extend assistance and takes charge of the medical expenses of the victims. We will assist the victims' families and we will provide medicines, she said.