At least 21 individuals are unaccounted for following the collapse of a nine-story building that was under construction in the Philippines during a severe thunderstorm in Angeles City, Pampanga province. Despite the collapse, 24 workers managed to escape or were rescued. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with over 100 police and government personnel working to locate any remaining trapped individuals. While there have been no confirmed fatalities, some of the rescued workers sustained injuries.
Most of the missing individuals are believed to be construction workers, according to Francis Pangilinan, who oversees the city’s disaster mitigation office. Additionally, two people, including a Malaysian tourist, were injured when debris from the collapsed building struck their lodgings.
Rescue teams, including firefighters, police, and disaster-response units, are utilizing manual searches and sniffer dogs to locate survivors trapped in the rubble. Public Works Secretary Vinzon Dizon mentioned that signs of life have been detected, with voices heard from the site. The rescue operation is being conducted cautiously due to the unstable conditions at the scene.
Angeles City, which previously housed a significant US Air Force base until the early 1990s, has since developed into a prominent entertainment and commercial center in the Luzon region of the Philippines.
