At least 21 individuals are currently unaccounted for following the collapse of a nine-story building still under construction in the Philippines on Sunday morning.
The structure fell amid a severe thunderstorm in Angeles City, located in the Pampanga province of the country. Rescuers have reported hearing sounds from beneath the debris, while 24 workers were able to escape or were rescued, as per statements from police and other authorities.
Over 100 police officers and government staff are engaged in efforts to locate and free any individuals who may still be trapped, according to police Brigadier General Jess Mendez.
While there have been no confirmed fatalities as per Mendez and other officials on site, some of those who managed to evacuate sustained injuries.
Most of the missing 21 persons are believed to be construction workers at the site, as stated by Francis Pangilinan, who oversees the disaster mitigation office in Angeles City.
Two additional individuals, including a tourist from Malaysia, suffered injuries when debris struck their accommodations due to the building’s collapse, officials confirmed.
Rescue teams, including firefighters, police, and disaster response units, are utilizing manual search methods and sniffer dogs in a hazardous operation to locate survivors trapped in the wreckage, stated Public Works Secretary Vinzon Dizon.
Dizon mentioned the presence of potential signs of life and voices being heard, emphasizing the need for cautious operations due to the unstable nature of the site and the primary goal of ensuring the safe extraction of individuals.
Angeles City was previously home to one of the largest US Air Force bases outside the continental US until its closure in the early 1990s, contributing to the growth of Angeles and surrounding areas as key entertainment and commercial centers in the northern Luzon region of the Philippines.
