Nine-storey building collapses in the Philippines, victims still trapped

A nine-storey building under construction collapsed after being hit by a severe storm on Sunday (24/05) around 3:00 am local time. As of this report, local authorities confirmed four fatalities, with 17 others still missing.

Three victims were construction workers who died during evacuation efforts. Hundreds of rescue personnel, led by Filipino fire and police teams, were deployed for the operation.

Previously, the three workers were trapped alive in concrete and steel debris. Rescuers had administered water and medication via IV drip to one of the trapped workers. Local police chief Brigadier General Jess Mendez stated, “Despite all efforts, the victims could not be saved.”

Another fatality was a Malaysian tourist trapped in a guesthouse that was struck by debris from the nine-storey building. Another guest sustained injuries but managed to escape.

Rescue operations are ongoing.

As of Monday (25/05), Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin said rescue efforts remain focused on locating survivors. Evacuation efforts have not shifted to corpse recovery. “We hope to save more people alive and do not want to deliver bad news to the families of those still trapped,” Lazatin said.

Families of the missing are anxious. One such case is Lea Mendoza Casilao, whose partner is a construction worker listed among those trapped. “I’ve lost hope because I see the slow rescue process,” she said.

Lazatin explained that rescue teams must proceed with extreme caution as the debris, consisting of large concrete chunks, is unstable. This unstable terrain poses risks to rescuers due to potential secondary collapses.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Authorities also reported that 26 workers managed to escape by fleeing from the ground floor when the building collapsed. Among the 17 still missing, one has been located but cannot yet be extracted from the rubble.

Philippine National Police Chief General Jose Malencia Nartatez Jr. stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause, with authorities checking for possible safety standard violations during construction.