Angeles City, Pampanga province, in central Luzon Island, the Philippines, witnessed a tragic incident as a multi-story building under construction collapsed recently. As of Monday, the death toll has risen to 3 people, with an additional 17 individuals still unaccounted for. Rescue operations are ongoing as efforts continue to locate the missing.
According to reports from local fire department quoted by Reuters, rescue teams managed to pull out two individuals from the rubble, but sadly both passed away later. One of the victims had a pulse when rescued but succumbed after being taken to the hospital, while the other experienced a sudden cardiac arrest while trapped. The rescue teams are currently working on extracting another body buried in the wreckage, pending official confirmation before being included in the official death toll.
Furthermore, utilizing thermal imaging scans and life detection equipment, rescuers detected breathing and heartbeat signals under the rubble, leaving room for the possibility of more survivors trapped. Among the missing are 17 individuals, mostly construction workers who were present at the site at the time of the accident.
Additionally, a 65-year-old man from Malaysia lost his life in the incident, with his body found on the 24th in a nearby hotel building affected by the collapse. Authorities have yet to disclose his specific identity and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Local authorities have initiated an investigation into the cause of the accident. Based on the plans and construction records publicly released by the Angeles City government, the building was initially authorized for the construction of a 9-story “condo-hotel,” but authorities discovered potential unauthorized construction of an additional 10th floor with a planned swimming pool.
Mayor Carmelo Lazatin of Angeles City informed the media that efforts are underway to reach out to the building owner to clarify the construction progress and the actual number of workers on-site. He emphasized that the government will conduct a thorough investigation to determine if there were any irregularities in construction or lapses in safety management.
As the search and rescue operation prolongs, the frustration among the families of the missing individuals escalates. Lea Casilao, a 47-year-old woman who hurried from Manila to the scene, expressed concern that her husband may be trapped under the debris, yet the family remains without timely updates.
Lorena Angcao, a 50-year-old woman, criticized the insufficient public information provided by the authorities. She indicated that her brother and sister-in-law operated a stall near the construction site and are currently unaccounted for.
The Philippines has experienced several construction safety incidents in recent years, drawing attention to concerns regarding inadequate construction supervision in some areas, unauthorized extensions, and lax enforcement of safety standards.