Manila: 'Skyway' span collapses after fire erupts

The under-construction Stage 3 of the Manila Skyway project is a 14.82-km 6-lane elevated toll road, and forms one of the five stages of Metro Manila Skyway (MMS) System, which spans 31.2 kilometres.

A fire erupted in a Manila warehouse on Saturday, February 1, 2020, which led to the collapse of a span of an under-construction “Manila Skyway” in Pandacan district in the Philippine capital.

The collapsed span of the under-construction Stage 3 of the overhead "Manila Skyway" project.

A still undetermined length of the overhead roadway gave way as the blaze raged at a plastics warehouse on Tomas Claudio Street, Pandacan, a district of Manila. The affected span forms part of the under-construction Manila Skyway project.

“It's a portion of Skyway Stage 3 parapet that was damaged. Stage 3 is still under construction and therefore, not operational. We are still assessing the extent of damage," said Skyway Corporate Communications head Marlene Ochoa in a statement.

Part of the Skyway Stage 3 collapsed due to the warehouse fire in Manila. The completion of the Skyway Extension Stage 3 is scheduled this year (2020).

It remains unclear whether the elevated expressway project will be delayed as a result of the collapse triggered by the warehouse fire on February 1, 2020.

The three-section Skyway, which spans 31.2km, is designed to connect the South Luzon Expressway to the North Luzon Expressway and help cut the travel time between Metro Manila and Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

After the fire: Firefighters at work to contain the massive fire that hit a warehouse near the Manila Skyway. The under-construction freeway will connect the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Alabang to Balintawak in Quezon City, through to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

In total, the Skyway Project is a 31.2-km elevated highway serving as the main expressway in southern Metro Manila. It is divided into five stages.

A general view of the under-construction Manila Skyway project. The three-section Skyway, spanning 31.2km, is designed to connect the South Luzon Expressway to the North Luzon Expressway. It is also expected to cut travel time between Metro Manila and Clark International Airport in Pampanga.

A portion of the Skyway Stage 3 in Pandacan, Manila collapsed under the heat of a massive fire that struck at a nearby warehouse on February 1, 2020, Saturday.

Part of the Manila Skyway Stage 2. A section of the Stage 3's parapet was damaged by the fire on February 1, 2020. Stage 3 is still under construction and therefore, not operational.

Manila firefighters have put out fire on Saturday, February 1, 2020 in Pandacan, Manila. The fire triggered a collapse of a span of the under-construction Stage 3 of the "Manila Skyway" project. The government said assessments, investigation are being conducted to establish the cause.