54 injured as Philippine church balcony collapses during Ash Wednesday mass (update)

This photo shows a general view of a partially collapsed balcony inside a church in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, on February 14, 2024. Fifty-four people were injured when a packed Catholic church balcony collapsed during Ash Wednesday service in the Philippines on Wednesday, city disaster officials said (Photo by Neil Nuñez/ AFP)

MANILA: Fifty-four people were injured when a packed Catholic church balcony collapsed during an Ash Wednesday service in the Philippines on Wednesday (Feb 14)), city disaster officials said.

Millions of Filipinos flocked to churches during Ash Wednesday, one of the religion's busiest days, which marks the beginning of Lent in Asia's Catholic outpost.