'Sinking SM MOA fake news'

(UPDATE) THE Pasay City local government branded as «fake news» messages and social media posts claiming that the SM Mall of Asia will collapse due to its alleged damaged foundation.

In a statement in Filipino, the local government also warned the public against spreading the news.

In separate statements, the city government and the management of SM MOA warned the public against spreading such messages on social media, where shoppers are discouraged from going to the mall.

A part of the message quoted an engineer saying that he and his colleagues were summoned by management because the foundation underneath had been damaged, causing water from Manila Bay to seep through the structure.

It likewise claimed that the pumping system was the only mechanism forcing the water from the mall back to Manila Bay.

They said that the mall buildings could collapse if the pumps malfunction.

But SM MOA, in its statement, assured the public that «the foundation of the SM Mall of Asia Complex is built on concrete piles that reach the bedrock and will withstand extreme situations,» it said.

It added that «rigorous annual checks were being conducted on the mall and its surrounding buildings for „strength and durability.“