7 students rescued after 3 hours in University of Batangas elevator

BATANGAS — Seven students were rescued after being trapped inside an elevator at the University of Batangas Main Campus on Tuesday evening.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection Calabarzon, personnel from the Batangas City Fire Station, together with the Philippine Red Cross and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, responded after receiving an emergency call around 6:26 p.m.

Rescuers completed the extrication operation around 7:11 p.m., bringing out the seven students, aged 19 and 20. 

They were immediately taken to the school clinic for medical assessment and were reported to be in stable condition.

The BFP Calabarzon has yet to disclose the cause of the incident.

However, a report from the university publication, The Westernian Advocate, said the students had been trapped for about three hours since 4 p.m. after the elevator allegedly malfunctioned while descending.

The publication added that the students believed the elevator was already safe to use because it appeared to be operational.

However, the elevator was still undergoing commissioning and testing, with a notice reportedly warning that it was not yet recommended for public use.

The University of Batangas has yet to issue a statement on the incident.