Angeles City Building Collapse: 1 Dead, 24 Rescued as Workers Remain Trapped

A nine-story building under construction in Angeles City, Pampanga collapsed early Sunday, leaving one person dead and triggering a major search-and-rescue operation for people feared trapped under the rubble.

According to Rappler, the collapse happened around 3 a.m. along Teodoro Street in Barangay Balibago. The city government activated a Unified Command System as responders from the Bureau of Fire Protection, city teams and the Philippine National Police worked at the site.

As of 2:30 p.m., the BFP said 24 people had been rescued and brought to Rafael Lazatin Memorial Medical Hospital. Rappler also reported that one death had been confirmed as of 6 p.m., citing a GMA News report that the victim had been staying in an apartelle beside the collapsed structure.

Authorities were still verifying the status of 18 individuals listed as assigned to work at the site when the building gave way. Families also confirmed that five people had entered the site for work, raising fears that several workers may still be trapped.

Responders said high temperatures at the site were making the rescue difficult, while signs of life were reportedly detected beneath the debris. The building was being developed as a hotel and was already in the finishing stage, but the cause of the collapse remains under investigation. Source: Rappler