TACLOBAN, Philippines - A 27-year-old woman from Bicol died at Tacloban airport just after the Mass officiated by Pope Francis on Saturday afternoon, January 17.
The Yolanda aid worker Kristel Mae Padasas was dead on arrival at around 2 pm at the St Paul's Hospital in Tacloban City. She worked with the Catholic Relief Service during the Yolanda humanitarian crisis.
Fr. Amadeo Alvero, Palo Archdiocese' Social Communications Director said the accident was due to scaffoldings of a speaker near the altar that fell on her.
The scaffolding hit her in the chest and pinned her to the ground. Health Secretary Janette Garin said the cause of death was "massive blood loss."
"Nahulog dahil sa hangin," he noted, adding that the large crowd that gathered for the event had nothing to do with the accident.
Alvero added that Padasas was one of many volunteers helping at the mass the pope, which police said attracted a crowd of about 200,000 people.
Pope Francis cut short his trip to Leyte due to bad weather condition as tropical storm Amang (Mekkhala) threatens Eastern Visayas. Amang is the first storm or typhoon to hit the Philippines this 2015.
UPDATE: Pope Francis on Sunday during the encounter with the Youth in University of Santo Tomas asks prayers for Padasas.
LIVESTREAM: Pope Francis Meeting with the Youth in UST (January 18, 2015)
"I want all of you to pray for the young woman who died in Tacloban," the Vatican pontiff said.
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| Papal mass volunteer died after a freak accident | Credit: UCAN/ABS-CBN News |
The Yolanda aid worker Kristel Mae Padasas was dead on arrival at around 2 pm at the St Paul's Hospital in Tacloban City. She worked with the Catholic Relief Service during the Yolanda humanitarian crisis.
Fr. Amadeo Alvero, Palo Archdiocese' Social Communications Director said the accident was due to scaffoldings of a speaker near the altar that fell on her.
The scaffolding hit her in the chest and pinned her to the ground. Health Secretary Janette Garin said the cause of death was "massive blood loss."
"Nahulog dahil sa hangin," he noted, adding that the large crowd that gathered for the event had nothing to do with the accident.
Alvero added that Padasas was one of many volunteers helping at the mass the pope, which police said attracted a crowd of about 200,000 people.
Pope Francis cut short his trip to Leyte due to bad weather condition as tropical storm Amang (Mekkhala) threatens Eastern Visayas. Amang is the first storm or typhoon to hit the Philippines this 2015.
UPDATE: Pope Francis on Sunday during the encounter with the Youth in University of Santo Tomas asks prayers for Padasas.
LIVESTREAM: Pope Francis Meeting with the Youth in UST (January 18, 2015)
"I want all of you to pray for the young woman who died in Tacloban," the Vatican pontiff said.
RELATED STORIES
IN PHOTOS: Plane carrying Palace officials skids off Tacloban runway
'Bagyong Amang' makes landfall in Dolores, Samar; Signal No. 1 up in Metro Manila
