Manila Tower Crane Failure Kills Two Construction Workers And Leaves Four Others Injured

Manila, Philippines— A tower crane collapsed onto a high-rise construction site in downtown Manila just after 10 a.m. Tuesday, killing two construction workers on the spot and sending four others to hospital.

The structure fell from roughly 30 stories. Steel sections sheared off the tower and slammed into scaffolding, temporary offices, and a concrete deck where crews were pouring the next level. Dust covered three blocks. Workers ran.

Manila police identified the dead as two men in their early 30s employed by the site contractor. Four more suffered fractures, head injuries, and crush wounds. They were pulled from debris within 45 minutes, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection. One remains in critical condition.

"We heard a loud crack, then the cable whipped," said a welder who was working two floors below. "The whole boom came down fast. There was no time to clear."

Site supervisors ordered an immediate evacuation of nearly 120 workers. Power to the block was cut. The Department of Labor and Employment sent inspectors before noon. They sealed the crane base and confiscated maintenance logs, daily checklists, and operator certifications.

Initial focus is on mechanical failure and overload. A senior DOLE inspector said the crane had been flagged last month for hydraulic leaks but was cleared after repairs. The developer, which has not been named publicly, said in a short statement it is cooperating and has suspended work across the site pending review.

Manila City Hall issued a stop-work order for the project. Building officials will conduct a structural audit of the tower and adjacent buildings struck by falling debris. Nearby residents were kept behind cordon lines for six hours while engineers checked for secondary collapse risks.

Labor groups called the deaths preventable. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said crane accidents have risen with the high-rise boom and lax third-party inspections. They demanded criminal liability if negligence is found.

Forensic teams remained on site into the evening. Cranes from two other projects in the district were ordered grounded for spot checks.