Search for Philippines Building Collapse Victims Halted

The search operation concluded after a brief glimmer of hope. Local authorities reported on Monday (25 May) that thermal sensors detected ‘signs of life’ in part of the rubble, but Maria Leah Sajili, a regional fire bureau spokesperson, confirmed no survivors or bodies were found. Four people have been confirmed dead, including a Malaysian tourist trapped in a guesthouse crushed by debris from the nine-storey building. Meanwhile, 16 others, predominantly construction workers, remain missing. Evelyn Alicaway, 19, lost her father in the incident. She learned of the accident from her uncle and recognised him in social media videos showing rescuers pulling him from the rubble. ‘Even though his face was blurred, I knew it was him. It was heartbreaking to see my father like that,’ Alicaway said, crying at her father’s funeral. Philippine authorities expressed sympathy to the victims’ families during a press conference on Tuesday (26 May). ‘We sympathise with what you are going through. Rest assured, we did everything possible to save lives, and now we must move forward,’ said Sajili. The nine-storey building in Angeles City collapsed early Sunday (24 May) after a severe storm. Hundreds of rescue personnel, led by the local fire department and police, were deployed. Sajili stated that initially 17 people were reported missing, but one contacted authorities on Monday to confirm they were not present during the incident. Most of the remaining 16 missing are construction workers who were sleeping on-site. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse and whether construction permits were violated. The Philippines Department of Labour had previously halted work at the site in September 2025. Regional Labour Office official Geraldine Panlilio said inspectors found safety standard violations. ‘Our labour inspectors discovered poor working conditions that endanger workers,’ Panlilio said in a DZMM radio interview in Manila. Workers lacked safety equipment such as helmets, boots, harnesses, and safety ropes, and worked in poor lighting without visible safety signs, she added. Construction resumed a month later after the contractor met safety requirements, Panlilio added. Evelyn Alicaway’s mother, Rosenda, hopes the company will take responsibility. ‘We hope the company owner will take responsibility and address the issues affecting workers. Families are suffering. This is not what we wanted, but they need to coordinate with us,’ she said.