Emergency crews are working to locate survivors after a nine-story construction project collapsed in Angeles City, located north of Manila in the Philippines, according to a local government official who spoke Sunday.
Jay Pelayo, the Angeles City information officer, reported to DZBB radio that eight individuals in the surrounding area have been pulled to safety, while 11 others successfully escaped on their own, including the site foreman.
The site foreman provided information indicating that approximately 30 to 40 individuals remain unaccounted for, Pelayo told DZBB.
Rescue teams continue their efforts to locate survivors, Pelayo confirmed. The cause of the structural failure remains unknown at this time, though the city engineer is examining the project’s construction records, he noted.
The concrete construction of the collapsed structure presents significant challenges for rescue workers attempting to clear away debris, Pelayo explained.
Photos released by DZBB revealed the building had been reduced to rubble consisting of concrete chunks and bent steel, with green safety mesh visible throughout the wreckage.
“The assessment is not yet finished. The unified command system is still working on it, and it is too early to determine the cause of the collapse, which is still being evaluated,” Pelayo said.
“Power lines were hit and were now being secured. We are calling on residents in the area to cooperate with authorities so rescue operations for those trapped are not delayed, and no one else is put at risk,” he said.
