At least 21 individuals are unaccounted for following the collapse of a nine-story building that was under construction in the Philippines on Sunday morning. The incident occurred in Angeles City in the Pampanga province after a severe thunderstorm. Rescuers have reported hearing voices from the debris, while 24 workers were able to escape or were rescued, according to authorities.
Over 100 police and government personnel are currently involved in the rescue efforts to locate those believed to be still trapped under the rubble, as confirmed by police Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez. Although there have been no confirmed fatalities, some of the individuals who managed to evacuate sustained injuries.
Angeles City’s disaster mitigation office head, Francis Pangilinan, stated that most of the missing individuals are presumed to be construction workers. Additionally, two people, including a Malaysian tourist, were injured when their accommodations were struck by debris from the collapsed building.
Rescue teams, comprising firefighters, police, and disaster response units, are utilizing manual search techniques along with sniffer dogs to locate any survivors in the precarious conditions of the site, as mentioned by Public Works Secretary Vinzon Dizon. Dizon emphasized the importance of caution due to the unstable nature of the area.
Angeles City, once home to a significant US Air Force base, saw rapid development post its closure in the early 1990s, transforming into a key entertainment and commercial hub in the northern Luzon region of the Philippines.